Chinese Premier Li Qiang has issued a stark warning over the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI), calling for a global consensus to ensure safety and equity in its development. His appeal, made during the opening of the World AI Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, underscores growing global tensions over AI leadership and governance, especially between China and the United States.
Li’s remarks follow closely on the heels of a bold policy announcement by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who pledged a sweeping deregulatory approach aimed at solidifying America's AI supremacy. Trump promised to cut "red tape" that might slow innovation, signaling Washington’s preference for a market-driven path.
By contrast, Premier Li emphasized international cooperation, ethical safeguards, and equitable access, warning that without coordinated oversight, AI could become both a global risk and a tool of dominance by a select few.
“The risks and challenges brought by artificial intelligence have drawn widespread attention,” Li said. “How to find a balance between development and security urgently requires further consensus from the entire society.”
As part of its efforts to influence global standards, China announced the launch of a new international AI collaboration body, spearheaded from Beijing. Li said China will actively support open-source AI development and share innovations—particularly with developing nations—framing this as an alternative to what he termed technological protectionism.
“If we engage in monopolies and blockades, AI will be confined to a few nations and corporations,” he said. “True progress requires openness and shared benefits.”
China’s push for open AI development comes as it grapples with an acute shortage of advanced chips and computing power—key resources Washington has sought to restrict. The U.S. has tightened export controls on cutting-edge semiconductors, citing national security concerns about China's military and technological ambitions.
Despite those constraints, Chinese firms like DeepSeek have made notable strides. The startup recently released an AI model rivaling top U.S. systems, using significantly less advanced hardware—a feat seen as a milestone in China’s quest for technological self-sufficiency.
The conference also served as a platform for global voices advocating for responsible AI development. Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton likened the current situation to raising a “cute tiger cub” that might one day turn dangerous if not properly trained.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in a video message, echoed calls for collective responsibility, calling AI governance "a defining test of international cooperation." French envoy Anne Bouverot, too, stressed the urgency of coordinated global regulation.
Earlier this year, 58 countries, including China, India, and France, signed a declaration in Paris supporting ethical and inclusive AI standards. Notably, the U.S. and the U.K. declined to endorse the initiative, warning that over-regulation could stifle innovation.
As the world’s AI race accelerates, the debate is no longer just about who leads, but how — and for whose benefit.
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