SHANGHAI, China: On July 17, Chinese President Xi Jinping presented China as a leader of a new global system for artificial intelligence (AI). He used the country's top technology conference to promote open-source AI and challenge the United States' influence over how rules for this fast-growing sector are set.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, Xi said countries should take advantage of what he described as a rare and historic chance offered by open-source AI. He said China would help developing countries build their AI capabilities. He also warned that unequal access to AI technology could create new forms of global injustice.

His speech was his clearest statement so far about China's goal to shape global AI rules. He presented China's open-source AI models as something that could benefit the whole world and positioned Beijing as an alternative to Washington at a crucial time in the global race for technological leadership.

Xi compared the importance of AI to major inventions like the steam engine and electricity. He described a future in which China shares AI technology and knowledge with countries in the Global South while also taking a leading role in setting international standards for the use and governance of AI.

He also presented China's AI partnership efforts as a rival to a U.S.-led initiative known as "Pax Silica," which aims to secure global AI and critical mineral supply chains. However, Xi did not directly mention the United States.

His comments came at a time when Chinese open AI models are rapidly improving and competing with closed systems developed by U.S. companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic. A Beijing-based startup, Moonshot AI, recently introduced Kimi K3, which it described as the world's largest open AI model by parameter count. This announcement followed the U.S. government's move to withdraw some of Anthropic's advanced AI models over security concerns.

Xi also stressed that AI systems must remain under human control. He said countries should establish early warning systems and emergency response mechanisms to address potential AI risks. He warned about the dangers of losing control over AI systems, especially autonomous ones that could act without human supervision.

Xi said that the China-led World AI Cooperation Organization (WAICO), which signed up 29 member countries on July 16, marked an important moment in global AI development. He said it responded to calls from Global South countries for a bigger role in shaping AI rules.

He added that China would offer AI training and create cooperation centers with groups such as BRICS, ASEAN, and countries in Latin America and the African Union. This reflects China's effort to strengthen its AI partnerships with regions where it already has strong influence.

George Chen, Chair in Digital Practice at The Asia Group, said Xi's message showed that China does not plan to follow other countries in AI technology or rules, but instead aims to lead globally. He added that the message could also be seen as a warning that China would not allow others to dictate its approach to AI.

The conference, between July 17 and July 20, comes as Washington and Beijing prepare for their first government-level AI talks under U.S. President Donald Trump. This raises the importance of WAIC from a technology event to an early sign of how China plans to compete for influence over global AI rules.

The two countries recently presented different approaches at a United Nations AI meeting. U.S. officials said excessive regulation could slow innovation, while China promoted its low-cost, open-source AI models to reduce global inequality in access to the technology.

Participants at WAIC include António Guterres, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and Anutin Charnvirakul, as well as leading Chinese technology companies.