China's WAIC showcases AI push amid US tech rivalry

The World AI Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, attended by President Xi Jinping, highlights Beijing's drive for technological self-reliance across the full AI stack—from models and chips to robots and consumer devices—amid intensifying rivalry with the US. US restrictions constrain China's access to advanced computing chips, prompting a national priority on domestic alternatives. Foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian rejected Western claims that China's promotion of open-source AI models is a 'trap,' stating Beijing opposes ideological lines and technological blockades. The conference is seen as a test of China's progress in turning model advances into a broader industrial ecosystem and shaping global rules through academic engagement, safety standards, governance frameworks, and international collaboration. AI is moving beyond screens as foundation models become multimodal, extending into the physical world.