SHANGHAI/BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday positioned China as a leading force in shaping the future of artificial intelligence, unveiling a vision for a new global AI order centered on open-source technology and broader access for developing countries.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, Xi called on nations to seize what he described as a “historic opportunity” presented by artificial intelligence. He pledged that China would support developing countries in building AI capabilities and warned against the emergence of new inequalities caused by uneven access to advanced technologies.
Xi’s remarks represent one of Beijing’s clearest statements yet on its ambition to influence global AI governance. China is increasingly presenting its open-source AI models as a global public good while offering an alternative approach to technology development and regulation at a time of intensifying competition with the United States.
Comparing the impact of artificial intelligence to transformative inventions such as the steam engine and electricity, Xi outlined a vision in which China shares AI technology, expertise, and digital infrastructure with countries across the Global South. He also emphasized the importance of creating international standards and rules to govern the rapidly evolving sector.
Although Xi did not directly mention the United States, analysts view the proposed AI alliance as a counterbalance to Western-led initiatives aimed at shaping global AI regulations and securing critical technology supply chains.
Chinese state media has increasingly described Beijing’s strategy as a response to what it calls efforts to limit China’s access to advanced technologies. At the same time, Xi stressed that AI systems should remain under human control and called for global cooperation on safety measures, including early-warning systems and emergency response mechanisms to manage AI-related risks.
The announcement comes as countries worldwide compete for leadership in artificial intelligence, a sector expected to have profound economic, military, and geopolitical implications in the coming decades.
