China’s next big AI plan

When Chinese President Xi Jinping visited South Korea, the centerpiece of his trip wasn’t some multibillion-dollar “Art of the Deal” transaction he’d brokered. Rather, it was his proposal to establish a global organization to set AI standards. In the vacuum left by President Donald Trump—who flew home from South Korea before the conference officially started—Xi pitched a Shanghai-based group that would set rules for international AI governance. This would allow China—rather than America or Europe—to mold how the world approaches AI. These aren’t just idle prospects. In fact, China now has a significant track record of shaping global tech policy, and by extension the global economy, by influencing the obscure international bodies that institute standards for the tech sector. While not as flashy as mega semiconductor deals, these organizations sketch out the blueprints for how technology is designed and used around the world, from 5G to satellites. As we enter the AI age, China is now clearly laying the groundwork to shape the AI ecosystem with those international standards. What would that mean for the rest of the world?