China's AI technology drives development in Global South
As morning sunlight hits the shrimp ponds in Takeo province, Cambodia, drones take off to begin their daily routine of spreading feed. Meanwhile, a real-time monitoring system operates around the clock, sending water quality data to operators to enable quick and precise adjustments. This smart technology, implemented through the China-ASEAN Smart Agriculture Integrated Development Pilot Programme, demonstrates how Chinese-developed artificial intelligence (AI) can make local industries smarter and more efficient. With the help of this technology, local shrimp farmers have more than tripled their annual income per hectare.
AI is increasingly becoming a powerful engine of growth amid a new wave of technological revolution and industrial transformation. However, development disparities remain vast. For years, global AI research and development resources have been highly concentrated, leaving many Global South countries struggling with weak infrastructure, numerous technological barriers, and high costs. A World Bank report indicates that low- and middle-income countries lag far behind high-income economies in both the number of AI systems and available computing capacity. Furthermore, a survey by the African Data Centres Association found that most of the world’s data centre capacity is concentrated in developed economies, with Africa accounting for less than one percent. Without international cooperation, the AI gap could widen the North-South divide and exacerbate global development inequalities.
Against this backdrop, Chinese AI technology offers distinct advantages in meeting the urgent needs of developing countries for lightweight, low-computing-power, and easily adaptable AI solutions. Zheng Changwei, a professor at Fudan University in Shanghai, noted that China’s smart transformation is exploring a development path not limited to the high-threshold AI models seen in developed nations. He added that such solutions provide valuable options for many developing countries, helping them advance industrialisation and digitalisation while pursuing modernisation paths suited to their own conditions.
One example is Brazil, where vast rainforests, savannahs, and rugged coastal mountains pose challenges and safety risks for power grid maintenance. To address this, the State Grid Corporation of China deployed its independently developed Bright Power large AI model in Brazil, helping to ensure safer and more reliable patrols and operations in complex terrain. In South Africa, the local railway authority implemented a railway monitoring solution developed by Chinese tech giant Huawei. By combining optical technology with AI-based computer vision, the system integrates optical and visual data to detect risks and issue alerts, helping to reduce accidents and improve inspection efficiency.
China’s support for low-cost, open-weight models is significant, according to Luigi Gambardella, president of the international digital association ChinaEU. He stated that such models not only help make AI more affordable but also enable universities, companies, and developers to create local applications and businesses. He added that the large-scale application of Chinese AI in fields such as manufacturing, robotics, logistics, and energy can yield practical experience in improving safety, reliability, and productivity.
Industry observers also note that China is expanding cooperation with Global South countries to facilitate the cross-border flow of technology, solutions, and experiences, helping them address shared challenges such as climate change, public health, and food security. For instance, MAZU, an integrated AI-powered meteorological system for early warning developed by the China Meteorological Administration, has been deployed in various developing countries vulnerable to climate change, including Pakistan, Ethiopia, Mongolia, and Djibouti. Currently showcased at the ongoing 2026 World AI Conference (WAIC) and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai, MAZU helps these nations strengthen early warning capabilities and mitigate the impact of extreme weather on economies and livelihoods.
During WAIC 2026, China launched an action plan to promote global AI cooperation and development, marking its latest step to strengthen international AI collaboration and bridge the digital divide. The action plan calls for greater access to high-quality data, more inclusive intelligent computing services, and broader sharing of open-source AI ecosystems. It also seeks to promote deeper AI application across industries, joint development of digital talent, coordinated development of rules and standards, stronger cooperation in AI security and governance, and the development and use of AI for the benefit of humanity. Alex Zhavoronkov, founder and co-CEO of AI-based biotechnology company Insilico Medicine, commented on China’s AI progress at WAIC 2026, stating that China is at the forefront of the AI revolution.