Xi to Debut at China’s Flagship AI Summit as US Rivalry Heats Up

Chinese President Xi Jinping will make his first appearance at the World AI Conference in Shanghai, underscoring Beijing's strategic focus on artificial intelligence amid intensifying US-China tech rivalry. Xi's keynote speech at the three-day event, which gathers tech founders and officials, comes as Chinese firms like DeepSeek and Zhipu compete with Silicon Valley and the US restricts AI model access on national security grounds.

Bloomberg -- Chinese President Xi Jinping will make his first appearance at the country's flagship AI conference, signaling the growing importance Beijing attaches to the technology as its rivalry with the US intensifies. Most Read from Bloomberg - Hormuz Route Open Despite Iran Declaration, Maritime Group Says https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-12/hormuz-route-open-despite-iran-declaration-maritime-group-says?utm campaign=bn&utm medium=distro&utm source=yahooUS - OpenAI Engineer's 'LOL' Moment Set Stage for Legal Fight With Apple https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-11/openai-engineer-s-lol-moment-set-stage-for-legal-fight-with-apple?utm campaign=bn&utm medium=distro&utm source=yahooUS - Trump Embraces Australian Retirement System Backed by Larry Fink https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-12/trump-embraces-australian-retirement-system-backed-by-larry-fink?utm campaign=bn&utm medium=distro&utm source=yahooUS Xi will deliver a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the three-day World AI Conference in Shanghai starting Friday, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Monday. Xi's attendance marks an upgrade from last year, when Premier Li Qiang headlined the event and warned against AI monopolies. At the time, Beijing also announced the establishment of a cooperation organization that jostles with the US for influence over global AI standards. That competition has only grown more fierce. Chinese companies such as DeepSeek and Zhipu are racing to create models that challenge Silicon Valley's top offerings. Anthropic PBC recently accused Chinese rivals, including Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., of "illicitly" accessing its models to replicate their capabilities, while the White House has moved to limit foreign access to frontier models, citing national security concerns. The upcoming conference in Shanghai is set to gather thousands of tech founders, Chinese officials and deep-pocketed financiers. The event, which has featured Elon Musk and Jack Ma in previous years, was launched in 2018 to showcase China's cutting-edge technology. Much of the programming this year centers on AI governance and its impact on the broader economy and society, according to a rundown published by organizers. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek - At 17, She Sued Meta and Google, and Won. Now She's Ready to Tell Her Story https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-07-03/google-and-meta-lost-a-landmark-trial-to-kaley-but-kept-her-as-a-user?utm campaign=bw&utm medium=distro&utm source=yahooUS - The Shattering of the Middle East's Most Unlikely Friendship https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-07-10/israel-palestine-conflict-shatters-unlikely-friendship-that-bridged-borders?utm campaign=bw&utm medium=distro&utm source=yahooUS - World Cup Panini Sticker Book Fans Brace for End of a 60-Year Tradition https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-10/fanatics-panini-fight-threatens-world-cup-sticker-books?utm campaign=bw&utm medium=distro&utm source=yahooUS ©2026 Bloomberg L.P.