Bangladesh, Sept. 29 -- Artificial intelligence has quickly moved from being a promising technological innovation to becoming a matter of national security, economic competition and global governance. As the United States and China compete for leadership in advanced AI, a fundamental question is emerging: Can countries race to develop increasingly powerful AI systems while also ensuring that those systems remain safe and accountable?

The disagreement between US President Donald Trump and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates illustrates the growing divide over that question.

Trump has framed artificial intelligence largely as a strategic competition. His argument is straightforward: if the United States slows down while China continues devel...