China launches global AI body to counter US hegemony

xi jinping formally launched the world artificial intelligence cooperation organization (waico) during the shanghai ai conference, rallying 29 nations from the global south to establish a governance rival to western alliances. the initiative includes a pledge of 5,000 ai training slots and explicitly rejects broad national security justifications for tech controls, directly countering us chip export restrictions. with china's ai economy now valued at $140 billion, the move signals beijing's intent to leverage developing markets to bypass western containment and set alternative global standards.