President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote address at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai on Friday, emphasizing a "people-centred" approach to AI technology development. Xi called for a more open technological order and urged that artificial intelligence should not be dominated by any single country, advocating for greater international cooperation on AI development and governance.
To prevent the creation of "new historical injustices," Xi announced plans to cooperate with international bodies from Africa, Latin America, Asia, and BRICS countries to ensure equity of access to AI capacity building. Beijing is actively wooing developing countries and seeking influence through a new group of nearly 30 nations as superpowers jockey for the technological lead.
The drive for domestic alternatives to U.S. technology was highlighted by Huawei showcasing its most advanced AI computing cluster. While China's progress in low-cost AI models strengthens its claim to shape global rules, it has also stirred security alarms in both Washington and Beijing. Xi stated that the international community should jointly oppose overstretching the national security concept in AI or placing one country's security over that of others.
These developments come as Chinese AI firms challenge U.S. rivals and concerns grow regarding the potential military, cyber, and terrorist misuse of AI. By outlining this ambitious vision for global governance, Beijing aims to challenge the leading AI power and foster a more inclusive global technological landscape.