Calling for global cooperation on Artificial Intelligence (AI) development, Chinese President Xi Jinping told a major forum in Shanghai that the AI industry should not be dominated by any one country.
Xi on Friday delivered the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), which he was attending for the first time, underscoring the growing strategic importance of AI for China.
What did Xi say at WAIC?
“AI development should not be a solo performance by any one country, but should be a chorus of international cooperation,” Xi told the gathering.
To prevent the creation of what he called a “new historical injustice” in AI, Xi promoted Beijing’s role in ensuring that there is equality of access for developing countries when it comes to building AI capacity.
He announced China’s plan to cooperate with several international bodies, including those in Asia, Africa, Latin America and BRICS countries, to provide opportunities in the AI field.
China’s Xinhua news agency reported that on Thursday representatives from 29 countries signed an agreement to establish the World AI Cooperation Organization, headquartered in Shanghai.
Signatory countries include Russia, Belarus, Serbia, Cuba, Brazil, Venezuela as well as 12 Asian and 10 African countries.
China says the intergovernmental body aims to promote international cooperation and global governance in AI.
Xi also stressed the importance of a “people-centered” approach in the development of AI technology.
The Chinese leader said, “We must establish laws and regulations, technical monitoring, early warning and emergency response systems… to ensure that AI is always under human control.”
US-China AI race
The conference comes as China and the United States prepare for their first government-level AI talks under the administration of US President Donald Trump.
Chinese AI models are attracting global users with lower costs as they catch up to more expensive American AI offerings.
The United States and the European Union have banned technology imports from China, citing national security concerns.
Meanwhile, there are also growing concerns about the deployment of AI on the battlefield and its use by hackers and terrorists.
“We must jointly resist over-expanding the national security concept in the field of AI or putting one country’s security above the security of another,” Xi said on Friday.
What is the World Artificial Intelligence Conference?
WAIC runs for four days and involves more than 1,000 exhibitors from Chinese tech companies along with officials and researchers.
Leaders attending the event include UN chief Antonio Guterres, Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand’s Anutin Charnvirakul.
Nearly 3,000 products showcasing cutting-edge Chinese technology are being displayed at the gathering – including a smartphone that can operate apps automatically.
Edited by: Carl Sexton
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