The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday presented China as the leader of a new global artificial intelligence (AI) order, promoting open-source technology and challenging U.S. influence over the rules governing the rapidly evolving sector, Reuters reported.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the World Artificial
Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, Xi urged countries to seize what he
described as a "rare and historic opportunity" offered by open-source
AI. He pledged to help developing nations build AI capabilities and warned that
unequal access to the technology could create "new historical
injustices."
The speech marked Xi's clearest statement yet on China's
ambition to shape global AI governance. He portrayed China's open-source AI
models as a global public good and positioned Beijing as an alternative to
Washington in the global race for technological leadership.
Comparing AI's importance to the invention of the steam
engine and electricity, Xi said China is prepared to share AI technologies and
expertise with countries across the Global South while taking a leading role in
developing international standards for the technology.
Although Xi did not directly mention the United States,
Reuters said his remarks presented China's AI initiative as a rival to the
U.S.-led efforts aimed at securing global AI development and critical mineral
supply chains.
His comments come as Chinese open-weight AI models continue
to gain ground against proprietary systems developed by U.S. companies such as
OpenAI and Anthropic. On Friday, Beijing-based startup Moonshot AI unveiled Kimi
K3, which it described as the world's largest open AI model by parameter count.
Xi also stressed that AI systems must remain under human
control and called on countries to establish early-warning and
emergency-response mechanisms to manage AI-related risks. He warned against
scenarios in which autonomous AI systems could escape effective human
oversight.
China Expands Global AI Cooperation
Xi said the newly established World AI Cooperation
Organisation (WAICO), which signed up 29 member countries on Thursday,
represents a milestone in global AI development and responds to calls from
developing countries for greater participation in AI governance.
He also announced that China will provide AI training
programs and establish AI cooperation centers with members of BRICS, ASEAN, and
countries in Latin America and the African Union, strengthening Beijing's AI
partnerships across the Global South.
George Chen, Chair in Digital Practice at consultancy The
Asia Group, told Reuters that Xi's message made clear China intends to lead the
world in both AI technology and international standards rather than follow
other countries.
The July 17–20 conference comes as Washington and Beijing
prepare for their first government-level AI talks under U.S. President Donald
Trump's administration, making the event an early test of how both countries
plan to compete for influence over global AI governance.
Reuters said the two countries outlined competing visions
during a United Nations AI dialogue last week. U.S. officials argued that
excessive regulation could slow innovation, while China promoted low-cost,
open-source AI models as a way to reduce global disparities in access to the
technology.
The conference is attended by senior Chinese technology
executives as well as U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, Kazakh President
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
