Xi used Shanghai’s World AI Conference to cast AI governance as a shared global task, saying no single country should dominate the field and criticizing the “overstretching” of national security.
29 countries have signed on to a new World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization headquartered in Shanghai, a move analysts see as China’s answer to the U.S.-led Pax Silica framework.
China paired that message with concrete offers: access for 30 countries to a Chinese AI meteorological early-warning tool and 5,000 AI training opportunities for developing countries over five years.
More than 1,100 companies and 1,400 guests are attending the conference, where Huawei showcased its Atlas 950 SuperPoD and startup Moonshot unveiled Kimi K3, a 2.8 trillion-parameter open-source model.
The push underscores China’s bid to position itself as an AI partner for the Global South as U.S. export curbs and accusations over Chinese model development deepen the technology rivalry.
China champions global AI rules while exporting surveillance tools. Is its new world order a paradox for human rights?
With dueling AI visions from Washington and Beijing, is a truly global standard for safe AI even possible anymore?
As two AI superpowers emerge, must the Global South choose between American innovation and Chinese infrastructure?
The Rise of WAICO: China’s 29-Nation Bloc and the Battle for Global AI Standards
Overview
On July 16, 2026, China launched the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) in Shanghai, bringing together 29 mainly Global South countries to promote open-source, inclusive AI development. WAICO was founded by President Xi Jinping as a strategic move to challenge U.S. dominance and offer an alternative global AI governance framework. By championing open-source models and aiming to bridge the digital divide, WAICO positions itself as a major player shaping the future of AI. This initiative highlights the growing competition between China and the U.S. over AI standards and the direction of global technology rules.