Xi pitches China as leader of new global AI order, challenging US dominance

Chinese President Xi Jinping has declared Beijing the champion of a new global artificial intelligence order, directly challenging U.S. influence in the rapidly evolving sector. Speaking at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, Xi urged nations to embrace open-source AI, a historic opportunity. He pledged to help developing countries build their AI capacity, warning against new injustices arising from unequal access to the technology. This marks Xi's clearest statement yet on China's ambition to lead global AI governance. He framed China's open-source models as a global public good, positioning Beijing as an alternative to Washington during a critical period of technological competition. Xi compared AI's importance to the invention of the steam engine and electricity, envisioning China sharing its AI technology and expertise with the Global South while setting global standards for the emerging field. China's AI coalition is presented as a rival to the U.S.-led "Pax Silica" initiative, which aims to secure global AI and critical mineral supply chains. Chinese open-weight AI models are rapidly advancing, with Moonshot AI unveiling Kimi K3, described as the world's largest open AI model by parameter count. This follows a U.S. government decision to pull Anthropic's advanced AI models due to security concerns. Xi also emphasized the need for AI systems to remain under human control, calling for early-warning systems and emergency response mechanisms to manage AI risks and guard against loss-of-control scenarios. The newly formed China-created World AI Cooperation Organisation (WAICO), with 29 member countries, was hailed as a milestone. China plans to offer AI training and establish cooperation centers with BRICS, ASEAN, Latin American, and African Union countries, aligning its AI diplomacy with major Global South blocs.

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