China Launches Global AI Body, Analysts Warn Against ‘Us or Them’ Narrative

China should ensure that its new international artificial intelligence body is not seen as a direct rival to the United States and its allies, or it may deter potential member countries, analysts have warned. The World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (Waico) was launched in China as a platform for global AI collaboration. However, experts stress that Waico is not intended to replace the US-led Pax Silica partnership, which was created last December to reduce what Washington calls “coercive dependencies” on other nations. The key challenge for Beijing, analysts say, is to present Waico as a complementary initiative rather than a competitor. If the new body is perceived as part of an “us or them” divide, it could struggle to attract broad international support. Waico’s founding reflects China’s growing ambition to shape global AI rules. But its success will depend on whether it can build trust beyond its immediate partners.