Chinese leader Xi Jinping stressed 'secure AI development' in official messaging, reinforcing government commitment to AI sovereignty and tech independence.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for the development of "secure and controllable" artificial intelligence as competition with the United States intensifies. Speaking at the World AI Conference in Shanghai, Xi urged stronger global cooperation on AI governance and emphasized that artificial intelligence must remain under human control while balancing innovation with security concerns.
At the conference, Xi announced the creation of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation, comprising 29 countries and headquartered in Shanghai. This marked his first personal attendance at the annual conference since its launch in 2018. He described the current era as an unprecedented period of AI innovation that presents major opportunities alongside growing governance challenges.
Xi emphasized that the international community must address critical questions surrounding AI safety, ethics, and decision-making. He raised concerns about algorithm-driven decisions, widening technological inequality, and ensuring that AI benefits everyone equitably. He described artificial intelligence as an invaluable asset reflecting humanity's collective wisdom.
The Chinese leader pledged to provide 5,000 AI training and seminar opportunities for developing countries over the next five years. He called for open international cooperation, stronger legal frameworks, early warning systems, and emergency response mechanisms to manage AI-related risks, stressing that AI should remain a trusted technology serving humanity.
In his concluding remarks, Xi warned against expanding national security restrictions in ways that hinder international technological cooperation. He urged countries to support multilateralism and strengthen the United Nations' role in AI governance, arguing that AI development should be driven by global collaboration rather than competition between individual nations.