China urged to avoid ‘us or them’ split with US over AI governance

China should ensure its new international artificial intelligence body, the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAICO), is not perceived as 'naturally opposed' to the US-led Pax Silica partnership, analysts warned, as the two blocs risk polarizing global AI governance. WAICO, launched in Shanghai last month with 29 initial members mainly from the Global South and since expanded to 38, faces scrutiny that it is a strategic move by Beijing to counter Washington's influence, while Pax Silica, established in December with 24 members, aims to reduce 'coercive dependencies' and build 'supply chain security'.

China urged to avoid ‘us or them’ split with US over AI governance Both superpowers have set up their own international blocs, fuelling concerns that other countries will be forced to pick sides China should try to make sure that its new international artificial intelligence body is not seen as “naturally opposed” to the United States and its allies in case it puts off prospective members, analysts have warned. US Pax Silica partnership https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3360833/anthropic-china-and-why-pax-silica-architect-thinks-us-can-keep-ai-lead?module=inline&pgtype=article , which was established last December with the aim of reducing “coercive dependencies”. World Artificial Intelligence Conference https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3360404/xi-jinping-attend-world-ai-conference-first-time-china-elevates-tech-push?module=inline&pgtype=article in Shanghai last month, with an initial 29 members, mainly from the Global South https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3361057/china-ai-summit-hears-global-south-needs-equal-access-avoid-digital-divide?module=inline&pgtype=article . It has since gained another nine members. Although China has repeatedly insisted that Waico was designed to advance “AI for good and for all”, it came under intense international scrutiny amid claims it was a strategic move by Beijing to rally friendly capitals against Washington in the race for global AI leadership. Pax Silica, which has 24 members and core objectives that include building “supply chain security”, is widely perceived as being, at least in part, an effort to build a tech bloc that is walled off from China. The emergence of the two blocs has also raised concerns that the global AI landscape will become polarised between two rival camps.