Xi Jinping Takes Direct Role, 'Selling' AI to Developing Nations

China appears to be seeking to expand the use of AI by engaging developing countries (the Global South) as AI development partners. President Xi Jinping has personally stepped in to execute the plan. One initiative involves AI training programmes and seminars, with around 5,000 opportunities being offered to developing countries under the scheme. China is also developing technological cooperation in various regions, namely Southeast Asia, the Arab League, and the African Union. “China is willing to work with all parties to harness and address the opportunities and challenges of AI development with a more open attitude, more pragmatic actions, and a long-term vision,” Xi said at the World AI Conference in Shanghai. He added that AI development does not belong to just one country, but is a matter of international cooperation, and that China is ready to adopt a more visionary perspective. Xi also urged strengthening awareness of AI risks and security, including ensuring the technology is safe, controllable, and remains under human control. Furthermore, Xi expressed a desire for other countries to oppose the concept of excessive national security in the field of AI or placing one country’s security above that of others. The announcement comes amid heated relations between China and the United States, the two countries dominating AI development. The US, in particular, has implemented several measures to block China’s access to advanced technology, often citing national security reasons. This includes adding Huawei to the Department of Commerce’s Entity List in 2019. In 2022, the Biden administration introduced export controls to limit China’s ability to purchase advanced computing chips and manufacture sophisticated semiconductors.