29 Nations Launch World AI Cooperation Organization

A new international body dedicated to shaping the future of artificial intelligence was formally established in Shanghai on July 16, 2026, as representatives from 29 nations signed an agreement to create the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO). The signing ceremony, attended by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, took place on the eve of the annual World AI Conference (WAIC), which opened in the city on July 17.

The founding members include a geographically diverse group of nations such as Kazakhstan, Laos, Pakistan, Russia, Indonesia, Belarus, Serbia, Cuba, Brazil, and Venezuela, alongside multiple countries from Africa and Asia. According to the agreement, WAICO will function as an independent intergovernmental organization headquartered in Shanghai, with a stated mission to enhance international cooperation and global governance in AI, ensuring the technology is secure, equitable, and beneficial to humanity.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, delivering a keynote speech at the conference opening, framed the initiative as a response to a critical juncture for the technology. He stated that AI is becoming a new engine for economic growth and...