A new geopolitical competition has started in the world regarding Artificial Intelligence (AI). Chinese President Xi Jinping launched the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) in Shanghai on 17 July 2026. A day before this, 29 countries signed its formation agreement. The permanent headquarters of this organization will also be in Shanghai. China claims that its purpose is to increase international cooperation in the development of AI, but it is being considered as China’s biggest initiative towards making global AI rules. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres was also present during this event. Let us understand what WAICO means to the world.
New global AI organization formed with 29 countries
On July 17, 2026, during the World AI Conference held in Shanghai, Chinese President Xi Jinping formally launched the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO). A day before this, representatives of 29 countries had signed its formation agreement. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres was also present on this occasion. The permanent headquarters of the organization will be in Shanghai. China has described this as an important step in the history of AI development. This information has been given in the analysis of Major General RPS Bhadauria (Retd).
China now eyes global rules of AI
According to the analysis, WAICO’s existing powers are limited, but its purpose is not only to develop technology. China is now trying to create rules on the basis of which AI will be used in the world in the future. The idea of this organization was first put forward by Chinese Prime Minister Li Chiang in 2025. Later, during the APEC conference in October 2025, President Xi Jinping also reiterated this proposal. Now this proposal has taken the form of a formal international organization.
Which countries supported and which stayed out
WAICO’s founding members include 29 countries, including Russia, Belarus, Serbia, Cuba, Brazil, Venezuela, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Indonesia and Laos. Apart from this, many African and Asian countries have also participated in it. On the other hand, major western countries like America, Britain, Germany, France, Japan and Australia are outside this organization. China has also announced to provide 5,000 AI training and seminar seats for developing countries over the next five years. There has also been talk of increasing cooperation with groups like ASEAN, African Union, Arab League and BRICS.
Why is China creating its own platform?
According to Major General RPS Bhadauria, there are three main reasons behind this move of China. First, the country’s rapidly growing AI capability. According to China, by 2025 the size of its AI industry will reach 1.2 trillion yuan i.e. about 176.6 billion US dollars. There are more than 6,200 AI companies working in the country. China’s open source AI models have been downloaded more than 10 billion times. The second reason is that currently there are no common global rules for AI in the world. The third reason is to achieve leadership in AI governance by involving developing countries.
Two different AI systems can be created in the world
The analysis says that after the formation of WAICO, AI governance may get divided into two different poles. On one side there will be the AI Act of the European Union, rules of countries like OECD and G-7, while on the other side there will be the China-led WAICO. Due to this, international companies may have to follow different rules. The pressure on smaller countries to side with one side may also increase. The report sees America’s “Pax Silica” initiative and China’s WAICO as two big AI models of the future.
Questions still remain on whether WAICO will succeed
The analysis also said that the success of WAICO will depend on how much technology, computing capacity and training are actually available to member countries. Citing an analysis published in the British science magazine Nature, it has been said that at present this organization will not be able to make rules directly applicable to the AI industry. Apart from Brazil and Indonesia, the number of big economies in its founding countries is also limited. In such a situation, it has to be seen in the coming times whether other countries join it or maintain distance from it.
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