Xi Jinping launches the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization to establish a China-led framework for global AI governance.
Xi Jinping opened the 2026 World AI Conference in Shanghai by unveiling a comprehensive strategy to institutionalize China's influence over global artificial intelligence. A central outcome of the summit was the establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), a permanent intergovernmental body headquartered in Shanghai. The organization aims to coordinate technical standards, capacity-building, and open-source ecosystems for civilian AI. The administration of China presented a pragmatic approach to diplomacy, prioritizing openness and equitable access while criticizing the "overstretching" of national security concerns. This strategy contrasts with the United States' security-driven model, which emphasizes trusted partnerships and strategic alignment. While the U.S. often utilizes export controls to manage access to frontier models, China seeks to promote wider participation through its own infrastructure and standards. As the performance gap between American and Chinese frontier models narrows, the global AI order is expected to form a landscape of overlapping technological ecosystems rather than two strictly rival blocs.