Chinese President Xi Jinping pitched China as the leader of a new global artificial intelligence order during a speech on Friday [1].
The move signals a direct challenge to U.S. technological dominance and seeks to reposition the global governance of AI around Chinese interests.
Speaking at the World AI Conference in Shanghai, Xi said there should be a shift toward a more inclusive and cooperative approach to AI development [1], [2]. He positioned China as a primary force capable of leading this transition, suggesting that the current global order is too heavily influenced by a single power [1].
Xi's remarks coincided with his vow to make AI a central pillar of China's technological advancement [3]. By promoting a cooperative model, China aims to attract international partners, and develop a framework for AI governance that diverges from Western standards [1], [3].
The president said that AI development should be shared and collaborative rather than restrictive [1]. This strategy is designed to counter perceived U.S. dominance in the technology sector by offering an alternative leadership model to other nations [1], [2].
This push for a new order comes as China continues to integrate AI into its industrial and social infrastructure. The World AI Conference serves as a primary venue for the country to showcase its capabilities and recruit global allies for its vision of AI governance [1], [3].
“Xi pitched China as the leader of a new global AI order.”
This strategic pivot represents an effort by Beijing to move beyond mere technical competition and instead establish the legal and ethical rules of the AI era. By framing U.S. leadership as exclusionary, China is attempting to build a coalition of nations that may feel alienated by American export controls or regulatory standards, potentially splitting the global tech landscape into two distinct spheres of influence.
