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, he urged stronger global cooperation on AI governance. Xi said artificial intelligence should remain under human control while balancing innovation with security.
Addressing the conference, Xi announced the creation of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation, comprising 29 countries and headquartered in Shanghai. He described the current era as an unprecedented period of AI innovation that offers major opportunities alongside growing governance challenges. This marked the first time Xi personally attended the annual conference since its launch in 2018.
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Xi said the international community must address critical questions surrounding AI safety, ethics, and decision-making. He highlighted concerns about algorithm-driven decisions, widening technological inequality, and ensuring AI benefits everyone. He described artificial intelligence as an invaluable asset reflecting humanity’s collective wisdom.
The Chinese leader also pledged 5,000 AI training and seminar opportunities for developing countries over the next five years. He called for open cooperation, stronger legal frameworks, early warning systems, and emergency response mechanisms to manage AI-related risks. Xi stressed that AI should remain a trusted technology serving humanity.
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Concluding his 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. Xi said AI development should be driven by global collaboration rather than competition between individual nations.