Crafting a shared technological future

When future historians look back at pivotal moments in world history, July 16, 2026 will likely stand out as a red-letter day. On this day, the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization was established in Shanghai, uniting 29 nations and representing about half of humanity.

Having closely observed China's trajectory for over four decades, I have learned that the country's resurgence on the world stage is best viewed through the lens of continuity. China's major policy initiatives are not isolated events but are parts of a larger strategic vision.

WAICO's establishment is a logical extension of China's broader commitment to global cooperation. Many critics of China, especially in the West, have sometimes dismissed such initiatives as mere hyperbole.

However, this superficial interpretation misses the deeper intent. China does not work that way.

Unlike in some Western countries, where policies like these are often little more than rhetoric, quickly consigned to the trash heap of history, China's initiatives serve as a compass, guiding the country through global challenges such as AI, which pose existential threats that no single country or bloc of countries can tackle alone.

Humanity's future is increasingly interconnected and becoming more tenuous. China's stated objective is to build a community with a shared future for humanity, a framework based on cooperation, not confrontation. The establishment of WAICO fits into this broader vision.

AI is a transformative technology that cannot be governed effectively unilaterally or through competition alone. It will shape economic development, international security, education, healthcare, scientific research and everyday life.

If the world approaches AI only as a race for commercial advantage or strategic dominance, the risks of fragmentation, inequality and disastrous consequences will increase. A global framework for cooperation, standards, safety and shared development is not merely desirable, but also necessary.

WAICO's significance lies in its open source philosophy. China and the other 28 founding nations have a very different approach from the closed zero-sum model followed in the Western world, where advanced technologies are treated as private intellectual property and strategic assets.

While some Western companies have built extraordinary AI capabilities, their systems are almost invariably closed source, protected by secretive proprietary models and restricted access.

From the WAICO perspective, this approach risks creating technological divides in which the benefits of AI are concentrated among a small number of corporations, wealthy countries and billionaires, while at the same time all humanity is exposed to potential perils.

China's argument is that transformative technologies should be considered instruments of shared human progress. This does not mean rejecting innovation, markets or intellectual property, but recognizing that certain global challenges require broader shared responsibility.

In areas such as healthcare, education, poverty reduction and sustainable development, AI can become a public good that benefits societies worldwide.

This philosophy aligns with China's Global Development Initiative. China has consistently argued that technological progress should narrow, not widen, the development gap between nations.

AI should not become another dividing line separating advanced from developing economies. Instead, AI should expand access to knowledge, improve productivity, strengthen healthcare systems, and support economic growth throughout the Global South.

The Global Security Initiative further underscores WAICO's foundation. In the 21st century, security cannot be achieved through dominance over others. AI introduces new security challenges, from misinformation to autonomous systems, that demand international dialogue.

A world where a handful of powers or powerful investors control the most advanced technologies without oversight would create instability. Shared rules and mutual confidence are therefore essential.

The Global Civilization Initiative adds another dimension. Technology is not disconnected from culture and society. Different civilizations may have different perspectives on ethics, responsibility and governance.

China believes that global governance should respect these differences rather than assume that one model of modernization or political organization is universally applicable. Cooperation requires mutual learning among civilizations.

Finally, the Global Governance Initiative reflects China's argument that existing international institutions must adapt to new realities. The post-World War II era is long gone. The challenges of the AI era cannot be managed exclusively by a self-selected clique of traditional powers.

Developing countries, emerging economies, researchers, and international organizations must all have a voice if we are to address the promise and existential challenges of AI.

WAICO is part of the effort to create more inclusive mechanisms for governing technologies that affect all humanity.

These initiatives are part of a coherent worldview. Whether one agrees with China's approach or not, Beijing is articulating an alternative vision for global cooperation. The central idea is that humanity's greatest challenges require collective solutions.

The emergence of WAICO should therefore not come as a surprise. It follows a path China and many other nations have been charting for years: development without exclusion, security without confrontation, civilizations without hierarchy, and governance through broad participation.

In an era dominated by AI and rapid technological change, the question is not whether nations will shape the future, but whether they will shape it together.

Cooperation is not a constraint on progress — it is essential for building a community with a shared future for humanity and ensuring that we have a future at all.

The author is a senior fellow at the Center for China and Globalization.

The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.