At the World AI Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, Chinese Premier Li Qiang emphasized the pressing need for a global agreement to balance the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) with its inherent risks. His remarks, delivered on Saturday, come amid escalating technological competition between China and the United States, with no signs of easing tensions.

Li’s speech followed a bold move by U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently announced a strategy to bolster U.S. leadership in AI by minimizing regulatory barriers, aiming to unleash private sector innovation. In contrast, Li advocated for responsible governance and open-source AI development, revealing plans for a Chinese-led international body to foster global AI collaboration.

“Artificial intelligence brings both opportunities and risks that demand global attention,” Li stated. “Achieving a balance between innovation and security requires urgent consensus across societies.”

Li underscored China’s commitment to promoting open-source AI, pledging to share technological advancements, particularly with developing nations. “Technological monopolies and restrictions will limit AI’s benefits to a handful of nations and corporations,” he warned. “Embracing openness and fairness ensures AI serves a broader global community.”

He also highlighted a critical challenge: the global shortage of computing power and advanced chips, a bottleneck exacerbated by U.S. export controls aimed at curbing China’s access to cutting-edge semiconductors. These restrictions stem from concerns over China’s potential use of such technology to enhance its military capabilities, threatening U.S. technological dominance.

China, however, remains steadfast in its pursuit of AI-driven self-reliance. The government has introduced measures to strengthen its AI sector, with notable progress exemplified by DeepSeek, a Chinese startup that recently unveiled an AI model rivaling top U.S. systems despite using less advanced chips.

Ethical Challenges and Global Perspectives

The integration of AI across industries has sparked ethical concerns, including misinformation, job displacement, and the risk of losing control over advanced systems. At WAIC, Nobel laureate physicist Geoffrey Hinton likened AI development to raising a “charming tiger cub” that must be carefully trained to avoid catastrophic consequences as it matures.

In a video address, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described effective AI governance as a critical test for international cooperation. French AI envoy Anne Bouverot echoed this sentiment, stressing the urgent need for coordinated global action.

Earlier this year, a Paris AI summit saw 58 countries, including China, France, and India, alongside the EU and African Union Commission, advocate for inclusive and ethical AI governance. However, the U.S. and UK declined to endorse the summit’s call for an “open” and “ethical” AI framework, citing concerns over excessive regulation.

As the AI race intensifies, the divide between innovation-driven deregulation and calls for responsible global governance continues to shape the future of this transformative technology.