World urges global accord on harmonizing AI progress and security matters
In a significant move, China has announced the proposal for a new international AI cooperation organization at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) held in Shanghai on July 26, 2025. The organization aims to serve as a centralized platform for coordinating global AI regulation, development, and ethical governance [1][2][3].
Premier Li Qiang introduced this initiative, which is designed to create a multilateral framework that counters the U.S. deregulation-focused AI strategy, supports developing countries, especially in the Global South, and works toward unifying global AI standards under inclusive participation. The organization is tentatively planned to have its headquarters in Shanghai [1][2][3].
The goals of this proposed organization include coordinating global AI development and regulatory policies to reduce fragmentation across countries, promoting ethical oversight and safe, reliable, and controllable AI technology, bridging the digital and intelligence divide, particularly aiding Global South nations, facilitating open-source AI development and international knowledge sharing, and balancing AI's economic potential with risks such as misuse, inequality, and sovereignty loss [1][2][3][4].
Mechanically, the proposed organization would act as a multilateral cooperation body involving governments, enterprises, research institutions, and international organizations. It would promote international exchanges and cross-border open-source AI communities, emphasize multilateralism and extensive consultation to achieve shared global benefits, and implement coordinated policies spanning both AI development and security concerns [1][2][4].
This proposal has emerged amid contrasting approaches, with the U.S. emphasizing deregulation and export expansion, while China focuses on regulated, inclusive, and ethical AI governance with global collaboration at its core [1][3]. Premier Li Qiang's remarks came just days after US President Donald Trump unveiled an aggressive low-regulation strategy aimed at cementing US dominance in AI [1][3].
The tech race between Beijing and Washington shows no sign of abating, and this new organization is a concrete response to concerns raised by the Global South about the digital divide and AI inclusivity [1][2][4]. The organization's aims are to avoid AI becoming an "exclusive game" limited to a few countries or corporations [1][2][3][4].
Notably, Nobel Prize-winning physicist Geoffrey Hinton compared the situation with AI to keeping a tiger cub as a pet, stating that to survive, one must ensure the AI can be trained not to harm when it grows up [1]. Premier Li Qiang also warned about the security risks associated with artificial intelligence development and emphasized the need for governance and open-source development in AI [1][3].
No further details about the newly announced organization were given by Li Qiang [1]. However, this proposal underscores China's commitment to fostering global cooperation in AI and addressing the concerns of developing countries in the process.
[1] Xinhua News Agency [2] South China Morning Post [3] Reuters [4] The New York Times
- The proposed international AI cooperation organization in China, as introduced by Premier Li Qiang, aims to mitigate risks associated with artificial-intelligence technology by promoting ethical oversight and safe, reliable, controllable AI technology.
- This organization seeks to bridge the digital divide, particularly aiding Global South nations, by facilitating open-source AI development and international knowledge sharing, ensuring AI remains an inclusive and cooperative endeavor, not an "exclusive game" limited to a few countries or corporations.
