Beyond the AI race

The next chapter should not be about technological rivalry between leading nations, but about whether they can translate competition into cooperation

The newly released Kimi K3 model — an open-weight model from Chinese start-up Moonshot AI — has once again demonstrated how rapidly China’s frontier artificial intelligence capabilities are advancing. Together with earlier breakthroughs such as DeepSeek, it has reinforced a growing perception that China is no longer merely catching up with the United States — it has become one of the world’s leading AI powers.

Not surprisingly, these developments have intensified debate in Washington. Concerns about the US losing its technological edge have fueled renewed discussions on export controls, semiconductor restrictions, AI infrastructure investment and strengthening alliances around advanced technologies. The global conversation has once again centered on a familiar question: Who is winning the AI race?

Yet that question, while important, is increasingly incomplete. As artificial intelligence becomes one of the defining technologies of the 21st century, the more consequential question is not only who develops the most capable models, but what kind of AI future countries are trying to build. That broader vision was on full display at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference held in Shanghai this July.

When WAIC was first launched in 2018, it was primarily a technology exhibition showcasing the latest breakthroughs in AI. Today, it has evolved into one of the world’s flagship AI conferences, where discussions of technological innovation and global governance receive equal attention. Scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs, policymakers and international organizations gathered alongside participants from both developed and developing countries to debate not only the future of AI technologies but also the future of AI governance. The evolution of WAIC mirrors China’s own transformation — from an active participant in the global AI revolution, to an increasingly influential contributor, to a shaper of international discussions on AI.

China’s emergence as a rising global AI leader rests on several distinctive strengths. First, it possesses an exceptional ability to translate technological breakthroughs into real-world applications. AI is already transforming manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, finance and education at remarkable speed, creating a continuous feedback loop between innovation and deployment. Second, China has developed one of the world’s most dynamic AI ecosystems, integrating universities, research institutes, technology companies, manufacturers, investors and an enormous domestic market. Third, as China’s AI capabilities advance, so too has its emphasis on balancing development with safety. Chinese policymakers have increasingly emphasized that AI should remain safe, trustworthy and ultimately beneficial to humanity. President Xi Jinping stated in his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of WAIC 2026 that “China lays great emphasis on safety and security in AI development. With a deep understanding of the trends and logic of AI development, we are continuously improving laws, regulations, policies, mechanisms, application norms, as well as ethical principles to make sure that AI is safe, secure and controllable, and that this fine steed of AI gallops with both speed and stability”.

The world is increasingly witnessing two competing visions for the future of AI. One treats AI primarily as a strategic asset, with access to advanced models, semiconductors and computing infrastructure shaped by export controls, alliance networks and geopolitical competition. The other regards AI as a global public good whose benefits should be shared more broadly through open innovation, capacity building and inclusive international governance. The initiatives announced at this year’s WAIC — including the establishment of the World AI Cooperation Organization and China’s pledge to provide 5,000 AI training opportunities for developing countries — reflect this latter vision. Rather than defining AI solely as a race for technological supremacy, China seeks to broaden access to AI capabilities and ensure that more countries can participate in and benefit from the AI revolution.

This distinction matters because the challenges created by AI are becoming increasingly global. As AI capabilities continue to improve over the next decade, so too will the risks. Frontier AI raises concerns ranging from loss of control and cyberattacks to biological misuse and military instability. At the same time, AI may deepen global inequalities through widening gaps in computing power, talent, infrastructure and access to advanced technologies. None of these challenges can be managed by any single country acting alone. As the world’s two leading AI powers, China and the US share a responsibility to cooperate. Effective AI governance will require dialogue on safety standards, crisis communication, risk evaluation and confidence-building measures, even amid strategic competition.

Ultimately, the future of AI should not be judged solely by benchmark rankings or the sophistication of frontier models. It should also be measured by whether AI narrows or widens the global development gap; whether it strengthens or weakens international security; and whether its benefits are shared broadly or concentrated among only a handful of countries. While much of the international debate has focused on frontier AI risks, China has consistently highlighted issues such as digital inequality, capacity building, and equitable access to AI technologies — concerns that resonate strongly across the Global South. China has also emphasized the central role of the United Nations in ensuring that both developed and developing countries have an equal voice in shaping the rules of AI governance.

The next chapter of global AI development should not be defined solely by technological rivalry. It should be defined by whether leading AI nations can translate competition into cooperation and technological progress into global public goods. The success of AI should ultimately be judged not only by how intelligent our machines become, but by whether they enable more countries and more people to share in the opportunities they create. Beyond the AI race, that may prove to be major countries’ important contributions to the AI era.

The author is the vice-dean of the Institute of AI International Governance at Tsinghua University.

The author contributed this article to China Watch, a think tank powered by China Daily. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

Contact the editor at editor@chinawatch.cn.