Moving from AI race to AI governance

Global AI needs global rules

China's rapid advances in open-source AI models have expanded the frontiers of global innovation while prompting fresh debates over data governance, model safety and regulatory standards. Europe, meanwhile, is charting its own course. The European Union has introduced new rules for general-purpose AI and applications that could foster emotional dependency, particularly among minors, drawing clearer regulatory boundaries for the technology. Different jurisdictions are taking different approaches, but they share the same objective: ensuring that AI develops safely, responsibly and sustainably.

The international architecture is beginning to take shape. The UN has convened its first Global Dialogue on AI Governance to promote policy coordination and international cooperation.

It has also established the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI, whose inaugural report — prepared by 40 experts, including two from China — lays the groundwork for a governance model that links scientific assessment with policymaking. The approach mirrors the evolution of climate governance, where science gradually became the foundation of global action.

Yet technology continues to outpace regulation. International consensus cannot be legislated overnight; it must be built through sustained dialogue. The first UN dialogue on AI governance attracted wide international participation.

The next meeting, scheduled for 2027, will be accompanied by a more comprehensive scientific assessment, providing further support for the development of international rules.

Governance, however, is about more than managing risk. It is equally about narrowing the global AI capability gap. China and a group of partner countries are advancing the World AI Cooperation Organization while supporting a UN initiative to strengthen AI capacity, particularly in developing economies.

A global network of regional AI capacity-building centers, launched in Geneva, is already promoting cooperation in talent development, education, knowledge sharing and innovation ecosystems.

The AI revolution also brings new pressures on physical resources. Data centers, electricity demand and water use are emerging as shared global challenges. Future governance must therefore extend beyond algorithms and data to encompass energy, environmental sustainability and resource efficiency.

Participation in UN-led AI initiatives provides an important platform for mutual learning and the sharing of best practices. By learning from one another's experiences, countries can avoid common pitfalls and develop more effective approaches to AI governance.

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

If you have a specific expertise, or would like to share your thought about our stories, then send us your writings at opinion@chinadaily.com.cn, and comment@chinadaily.com.cn.