It was an artificial intelligence summit with very real-world geopolitical messaging.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday urged countries to cooperate on artificial intelligence and ensure no country dominates the technology – in an apparent jab at the United States.
Xi spoke at a major tech conference in Shanghai on Friday, where China showcased cutting-edge technology that rivals the prowess of the US.
Both countries are locked in a battle for tech and AI dominance and view each other’s advancements in these areas as deliberate attempts to stymie the other.
As Chinese AI models gain ground globally, Beijing appears to be casting itself as a leader of the new global AI order, challenging the US’s influence in the development and regulation of the fast-evolving technology.
At the heart of that strategy is a new coalition of 29 nations that China announced on Thursday, called the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO), in a high-level event where attendees included United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.