Xi Drops Bombshell: 5,000 Free AI Training Slots for Poor Nations, Slams US “Protectionism”
SHANGHAI — Chinese President Xi Jinping used the 2026 World AI Conference to announce 5,000 free AI training opportunities for developing countries and directly attacked the United States for blocking open-source technology, warning that the gap between AI-rich and AI-poor nations could “split the world.”
Speaking at the conference in Shanghai, Xi called for an end to what he described as a solo performance by any single country. “Artificial intelligence should not be a solo performance by one country, but a symphony of international cooperation,” Xi said [199631]. He argued that unequal access to the technology could create “new historical injustices” and urged nations to seize a “rare, historic opportunity” to embrace open-source AI development [198497][199018].
The Chinese leader directly criticized US restrictions on AI technology, saying the world should “jointly oppose overstretching the national security concept in the feud of AI or placing one country’s security over that of others” [199018]. His remarks came shortly after US President Donald Trump launched an attack on Beijing, though Xi did not mention Trump by name [198448].
To back his words with action, Xi vowed to provide 5,000 AI training and seminar opportunities to countries with less advanced technology [199018]. The conference also saw the launch of a new international body, the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), aimed at preventing a few powerful nations from dominating AI development and policy [198325][199105][197916]. Indonesia has already backed the new organization, with officials saying it promotes a balanced and inclusive approach to global AI governance [199105][199118].
Scholars and international figures at the conference echoed Xi’s warning that greater global cooperation is urgently needed to prevent a widening digital divide. The message matched a broader pitch by Beijing to court the Global South with an artificial intelligence package centered on training, infrastructure, and a push for greater influence over global governance [199585].
The conference, which is the first time Xi has appeared in person at the event, focuses on setting international standards for AI, including safety standards, ethical guidelines, and data-sharing frameworks [199167][199631]. Observers expect no binding agreements, but the event signals a growing urgency to coordinate policies worldwide [199167].