China's vision for a new global AI institution has officially moved off the drawing board.
Representatives from 29 countries signed an agreement on Thursday establishing the World AI Cooperation Organization (WAICO), a new intergovernmental AI body headquartered in Shanghai. The organization formalizes a proposal China introduced at the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC).
According to Reuters, China says WAICO will promote international AI cooperation and strengthen global AI governance. The organization also expands Beijing's role in international discussions over AI policy, standards, and technology cooperation. The agreement was signed ahead of this year's WAIC, where additional AI governance initiatives are expected to be announced.
The United States and many Western countries were noticeably absent.
What WAICO is and what it aims to do
WAICO is a newly established intergovernmental organization that serves as a platform for international cooperation on artificial intelligence. The body aims to bring governments together to coordinate AI governance, encourage technical collaboration, and support the responsible development of AI.
Reuters reported that the agreement establishing WAICO was signed on July 16, one day before the opening of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), Shanghai's annual AI summit. China first proposed creating the organization during last year’s conference.
Chinese officials have described WAICO as a mechanism to advance "extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit" while promoting AI that is safe, fair, and accessible to all countries. According to Anadolu Agency, the founding agreement also commits the organization to upholding the principles of the UN Charter, reinforcing Beijing's effort to present WAICO as a multilateral body rather than a China-led initiative.
Who joined and who was absent
The countries that signed WAICO's founding agreement offer an early picture of where support for China's AI governance initiative is emerging. Reuters identified founding members, including Russia, Brazil, Belarus, Serbia, Cuba, and Venezuela. Others who backed the creation of WAICO include 10 countries from Africa and 12 from Asia.
Notably absent are the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and many European Union countries, leaving WAICO's initial membership concentrated among countries that have generally maintained closer diplomatic or economic ties with China.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres attended the signing ceremony, lending additional visibility to the launch of the new body.
More than another international organization
Beyond the competition over chips and AI models, the creation of WAICO signals a growing battle over AI governance and regulation.
Governments are now also competing to shape the institutions, standards, and governance frameworks that could influence how AI is developed and deployed for years to come.
For China, WAICO provides a platform to advance its own vision of that regulatory power while expanding its influence in global discussions around AI policy. The Next Web notes that the organization also strengthens Beijing's outreach to developing countries, many of which are seeking greater access to AI technology, infrastructure, and technical expertise.
For enterprises and professionals that rely on the constant availability of AI technologies, WAICO adds to the growing list of factors to consider when making AI plans with international reach. That suggests that, just like privacy, AI policies will become increasingly fragmented, with adopters having to adjust to each region’s demands.
Read more: China’s new optical chip could make AI faster while using less computing power.