Xi Jinping warns against creating ‘new historical injustices’ in AI era at World AI Conference

By NewSunSEO | July 19, 2026

Chinese President Xi Jinping warned against creating “new historical injustices” in the era of artificial intelligence on Friday at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, calling for greater support for the technology’s adoption in the Global South and a more open, inclusive approach to development. His first in-person appearance at the event since its launch in 2018 was read as a signal of Beijing’s intent to lead global AI governance amid intensifying US-China tech rivalry.

What did Xi Jinping say about AI at the World AI Conference?

Addressing the opening ceremony of China’s largest annual AI industry event, Xi urged countries to strengthen risk awareness and ensure that AI is “secure and controllable.” He pushed back against the framing of AI primarily through a national security lens, calling on nations to “jointly oppose overstretching the national security concept in the field of AI or placing one country’s security over that of others.”

He framed AI as a technology whose benefits should extend beyond a small group of advanced economies, calling for greater support for AI use and adoption in the Global South. His remarks positioned Beijing as an advocate of openness at a moment when advanced technologies are increasingly constrained by export controls and corporate blacklists.

Why does Xi’s appearance matter for global AI governance?

WAIC, China’s flagship annual AI conference held in Shanghai, is the country’s largest gathering for the AI industry. Xi had not attended in person since the event launched in 2018, so his return to the stage was widely viewed as a deliberate signal.

Analysts cited in the coverage pointed to the speech as evidence that Beijing is elevating AI from a domestic technology priority to a pillar of its geopolitical strategy. The timing also mattered: Xi spoke shortly after US President Donald Trump delivered what the source described as an unprecedented attack against Beijing during a prime-time national broadcast, accusing China of orchestrating the “largest compromise of election data in history.”

How does the speech fit into US-China tech rivalry?

The contrast was framed deliberately. While Washington has moved to restrict the flow of advanced chips and place Chinese firms on entity lists, Xi’s message emphasized openness, inclusion, and shared benefit. By warning against “new historical injustices,” he raised the historical stakes of who gets to set the rules for AI, a domain increasingly treated as strategic infrastructure.

The phrase signaled concern that the current global AI order, dominated by a handful of countries and companies, could entrench existing inequalities rather than close them. It also served as a direct rebuttal to the securitisation of AI, the practice of treating model development, deployment, and export through the lens of national defense rather than shared progress.

What is the World Artificial Intelligence Conference?

The World Artificial Intelligence Conference is China’s largest annual event for the AI industry, held in Shanghai. It brings together domestic and international researchers, firms, and policymakers. The 2026 edition opened with Xi delivering remarks, marking a return to in-person participation after years of remote or lower-level representation. His presence shifted the conference from a sector event into a venue for articulating China’s stance on AI governance and international cooperation.

FAQ

Where and when did Xi Jinping speak about AI?

Xi Jinping spoke at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai on July 17, 2026, in his first in-person appearance at the event since it launched in 2018.

What did Xi Jinping mean by “new historical injustices” in AI?

He used the phrase to warn that the current global AI order could entrench existing inequalities between countries if access and rule-setting remain concentrated in a small group of advanced economies, and he called for more open and inclusive AI development.

How does Xi’s AI speech relate to the US-China tech rivalry?

The speech came shortly after President Donald Trump accused China of orchestrating the “largest compromise of election data in history” during a prime-time broadcast, and Xi’s call for openness and against the “securitisation” of AI was read as Beijing positioning itself as an alternative voice on global AI governance.