Xi Jinping warns against creating ‘new historical injustices’ in AI era at World AI Conference
Chinese President Xi Jinping warned against creating “new historical injustices” in the era of artificial intelligence on Friday, calling for greater support for the technology’s use and adoption in the Global South and a more open, inclusive approach to AI development. Addressing the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, Xi also urged countries to strengthen risk awareness and ensure that AI is “secure and controllable,” while pushing back against the growing securitisation of the technology. The speech was his first in-person appearance at the event since its launch in 2018.
What did Xi Jinping say about AI governance?
Xi framed AI as a global public good that should not be dominated by a narrow set of countries or security frameworks. He called on governments to “jointly oppose overstretching the national security concept in the field of AI or placing one country’s security over that of others,” a pointed reference to the expanding use of export controls and corporate blacklists in advanced technology.
At the same time, he stressed that AI systems must be “secure and controllable,” reflecting Beijing’s own preference for tighter oversight of how models are deployed. His remarks balanced two messages: a call for openness across borders and a reminder that adoption should not outpace safety.
Why is Xi’s presence at the World AI Conference significant?
The conference, held in Shanghai, is China’s largest annual gathering for the AI industry. Xi had not attended in person since the event’s launch in 2018. Senior officials read his previous addresses, and this year’s appearance was read as a signal that Beijing intends to play a leading role in global AI governance.
The visit also carries geopolitical weight. It came shortly after US President Donald Trump delivered a prime-time national broadcast accusing China of orchestrating the “largest compromise of election data in history.” Against that backdrop, Xi’s address was interpreted as positioning China as an advocate of a more open AI development model at a time when access to advanced chips and models is increasingly constrained.
What does Beijing want for AI in the Global South?
Xi used the speech to argue that developing countries should have stronger support to adopt and benefit from AI. By invoking “new historical injustices,” he suggested that technological revolutions have historically widened gaps between rich and poor nations, and that AI should not repeat that pattern.
The framing ties into a broader effort by Beijing to align its AI agenda with countries outside the US-led technology ecosystem, including through infrastructure investments and bilateral cooperation agreements that bring Chinese hardware, models, and standards into new markets.
How does the speech fit into US-China tech rivalry?
Xi’s address arrives during an intensifying competition between the United States and China over advanced semiconductors, model development, and the rules that govern cross-border data and AI services. Washington has tightened export controls on AI-relevant chips and expanded corporate blacklists, moves Beijing has framed as discriminatory.
By calling for an open and inclusive approach, Beijing is presenting an alternative narrative: that the current trajectory of restrictions risks concentrating AI capability in a small number of jurisdictions, and that a more multilateral framework is needed. The conference therefore doubles as a venue for both industry deals and diplomatic signalling.
What to watch next
Key questions following the speech include whether other major governments echo Xi’s call for an open AI framework, how China’s AI industry uses the conference to announce new models and partnerships, and whether the US responds to the Global South outreach with its own initiatives. The 2026 World AI Conference is expected to draw heavy participation from Chinese AI firms and a mix of international guests, making it a focal point for tracking the direction of AI diplomacy.
FAQ
What did Xi Jinping say about AI at the World AI Conference?
Xi Jinping warned against creating “new historical injustices” in the AI era and called for greater support for AI use and adoption in the Global South. He also urged countries to ensure AI is “secure and controllable” and to avoid overstretching national security concepts in the field.
Why was Xi’s attendance at the 2026 World AI Conference notable?
It was his first in-person appearance at the conference since its launch in 2018. His attendance was viewed as a signal that Beijing intends to take a leading role in global AI governance amid intensifying US-China tech rivalry.
When and where did Xi deliver the AI speech?
Xi delivered the speech on Friday, July 17, 2026, at the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai.
This article summarizes reporting from scmp.com.