China Pitches AI Partnership to Developing Nations, Warns on Risks

Chinese President Xi Jinping presented China as a partner for artificial intelligence development, particularly for developing nations, during the World AI Conference in Shanghai. Xi announced that China will provide 5,000 AI training and seminar opportunities to developing countries over the next five years. Additionally, China plans to increase AI cooperation with blocs such as ASEAN, the African Union, and BRICS.

Xi emphasized that AI development should be an "international cooperation" rather than a "solo performance" by any single nation. He called for a "people-centered" approach to AI governance and stated that AI must remain "secure and controllable" and always under human command. The president also warned against the "overstretching" of national security concepts in AI and cautioned against prioritizing one country's security over others.

The announcement follows an agreement by 29 countries in Shanghai to establish the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO). China's outreach for AI collaboration occurs amidst ongoing technological tensions and U.S. export controls aimed at limiting China's access to advanced technology, particularly semiconductors.

These U.S. restrictions, tightened in 2022 after initial measures in 2019, cite national security concerns. The controls have significantly impacted companies like Nvidia, whose market share in China has diminished. Nvidia has indicated it can no longer supply competitive products for China's data center market, benefiting rivals globally. Meanwhile, Chinese tech giant Huawei showcased its Atlas 950 SuperPoD at the conference, a supernode designed for large-scale computing power and AI model training.