President Xi Jinping has used the ninth World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai to articulate a vision of AI as a public good, announcing a new international body aimed at including developing countries in the AI revolution. The World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation, with 29 initial member countries, will be headquartered in Shanghai, providing a platform for affordable access and technological autonomy for the Global South.
China’s push comes as Silicon Valley and Washington focus on national security and corporate profitability. In contrast, Beijing emphasizes AI for social good, with open-source models like Kimi K3 rivaling Anthropic’s Claude Fable 5. The conference also featured over 1,100 companies showcasing innovations from humanoid robots to AI chips.
Key concerns addressed include whether poorer countries can build their own computing power, train engineers, and control local data. China’s proposed body aims to tackle these issues, framing AI as a resource for public benefit rather than wealth concentration.
Huawei’s latest Atlas 950 SuperPoD supernode, with 6.7 times more computing power than Nvidia’s NVL144, underscores China’s technological momentum. This initiative positions China as a leader in inclusive AI governance, challenging the current Western-dominated narrative.
Article and image source: scmp.com
