Ahead of a major summit on artificial intelligence this weekend, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for a global collective effort to develop and govern AI, reflecting Beijing’s growing frustration with US-led restrictions that are limiting China’s access to cutting-edge technologies.
China’s tech woes
The US has increasingly imposed curbs on China’s access to advanced tech, citing national security concerns. This has forced China to accelerate its own innovation efforts, driving up the stakes in the high-stakes tech race between the world’s two biggest economies.
Last week, a US-led alliance of nations blocked the sale of cutting-edge semiconductor chips to Chinese companies, citing fears that the technology could be used for military purposes. The move was seen as a major blow to China’s efforts to build its own semiconductor industry.
Xi’s call to action
Speaking in Shanghai on Friday, Xi emphasized the need for global cooperation on AI, citing the technology’s potential to drive economic growth and improve people’s lives. However, he also reaffirmed China’s objections to what he called “overly restrictive” US measures that are stifling its tech ambitions.
“Development and governance of AI should be a global effort,” Xi said. “We should join hands to promote fair competition and protect the interests of all parties.”
What this means
Xi’s call for a global effort on AI reflects the growing recognition that the technology’s development and governance will be a key challenge in the years ahead. As AI becomes increasingly pervasive in industries from healthcare to finance, the risk of unintended consequences and misuses will only grow. By calling for global cooperation, Xi may be signaling a desire for more open and transparent dialogue on AI development and governance.
For China, however, the stakes are also high. With the US imposing increasingly strict curbs on its access to advanced tech, Beijing sees AI as a key area where it can assert its own global influence and build a competitive edge. The US, on the other hand, sees China’s AI ambitions as a threat to its own national security and economic interests.
As the global tech landscape continues to shift and evolve, it’s clear that the US-China tech rivalry will only intensify in the years ahead. By calling for a global effort on AI, Xi may be trying to shift the focus away from a zero-sum game and towards a more collaborative approach – but the outcome remains far from certain.
