Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as the defining technology of the 21st century, carrying transformative implications for economies, militaries, societies, and global power structures. As nations compete for leadership in AI, the contest is increasingly geopolitical, shaping alliances and rivalries in equal measure. Against this backdrop, Chinese President Xi Jinping seized the stage at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit to call for greater cooperation in AI among member states. His message was clear: AI collaboration under China’s leadership could provide a counterweight to Western dominance in emerging technologies.
The SCO, which includes China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and Central Asian states, with observer nations such as Iran and dialogue partners across Asia and the Middle East, offers a unique platform for Beijing to champion multipolarity. Xi’s remarks on AI signaled both an opportunity for cooperation among non-Western powers and a challenge to what Beijing perceives as Western “technological hegemony.”
Understanding the Context: The SCO as a Platform
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), founded in 2001, began primarily as a security-focused alliance aimed at fostering regional stability and countering terrorism, extremism, and separatism. Over time, its agenda expanded to cover economic cooperation, infrastructure development, energy collaboration, and now, digital transformation.
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Strategic Membership: The SCO represents nearly 40% of the world’s population and spans critical geographies across Eurasia.
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Shared Interests: Many SCO members, including Russia, Central Asian republics, and Iran, face Western sanctions or are wary of Western influence.
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China’s Role: As the largest economy in the SCO, Beijing increasingly uses the platform to promote initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), digital Silk Road, and now, an AI cooperation framework.
By choosing the SCO stage, Xi Jinping framed AI not as a purely technical matter, but as part of a larger multipolar vision where non-Western nations shape the rules of the future.
Xi Jinping’s AI Agenda
Xi’s speech emphasized that artificial intelligence is both an opportunity and a risk, requiring collective governance to ensure fair access and development. His AI push at the SCO had several key themes:
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AI as a Tool for Development
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Xi framed AI as a driver of economic modernization, smart manufacturing, healthcare, and agriculture.
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SCO nations, many of which are still industrializing, could leapfrog stages of development with AI applications.
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Reducing Dependence on Western Tech
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The West, led by the United States and Europe, currently dominates AI hardware (semiconductors, GPUs) and software ecosystems (cloud computing, foundational AI models).
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Xi argued for the creation of independent AI ecosystems that would shield SCO members from sanctions and supply-chain choke points.
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Shared AI Research and Data Collaboration
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Proposals included joint AI research centers, cross-border data-sharing agreements, and talent exchange programs.
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This would accelerate innovation by pooling resources across SCO states.
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Ethical and Governance Frameworks
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Xi criticized Western-led AI governance models as biased and exclusionary.
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Instead, he called for “fair, inclusive, and non-discriminatory frameworks” under SCO’s collective leadership.
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Why AI Is Central to Xi’s Strategy
AI is not just another technology—it is the backbone of China’s geopolitical ambition. Xi Jinping views it as critical for three reasons:
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Economic Competitiveness: China’s “Made in China 2025” and “New Generation AI Development Plan” explicitly aim to make the country the global AI leader by 2030.
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Military Modernization: The concept of “intelligentized warfare” drives China’s People’s Liberation Army to integrate AI into command systems, drones, cyberwarfare, and surveillance.
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Global Influence: By exporting AI-powered solutions (from smart cities to surveillance systems) through the Digital Silk Road, Beijing expands its geopolitical footprint.
Using the SCO as a forum helps China align these ambitions with like-minded nations, many of whom also distrust Western dominance in technology.
SCO Members’ Response to Xi’s AI Push
Different SCO members view Xi’s AI vision through their own strategic lenses:
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Russia: Already a close technological partner of China, Russia supports AI collaboration as part of its broader confrontation with the West. Moscow sees this as a chance to integrate its AI talent pool with Chinese infrastructure.
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India: While an SCO member, India remains cautious. It collaborates with the West on AI while maintaining strategic autonomy. New Delhi is unlikely to align fully with China’s AI bloc.
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Pakistan: As China’s strategic ally, Pakistan is eager to integrate Chinese AI solutions, especially in defense, governance, and education.
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Central Asian States: Nations like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan welcome AI investment to modernize infrastructure but remain cautious about dependency on Beijing.
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Iran: With Western sanctions blocking access to advanced tech, Tehran views China’s AI alliance as a lifeline.
Overall, Xi’s message resonated most strongly with states already marginalized by the Western-led system.
Challenging Western Dominance
Xi’s remarks indirectly targeted the United States and Europe, which currently lead the AI race. The West has advantages in:
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Semiconductors (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel dominate high-performance chips).
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Cloud Infrastructure (Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud).
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Foundation Models (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google DeepMind).
China, however, faces semiconductor sanctions and restricted access to Western AI tools. By calling for an SCO-centered AI alliance, Xi positioned China as the alternative hub where emerging economies can develop without Western gatekeeping.
This challenge also reflects a broader ideological divide:
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Western Model: Market-driven innovation with regulatory frameworks focused on ethics, transparency, and individual rights.
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Chinese Model: State-led AI development prioritizing collective benefit, control, and rapid deployment.
Opportunities and Risks of an SCO AI Alliance
Opportunities:
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Shared Resources: Pooling talent, data, and infrastructure could accelerate AI breakthroughs.
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Resilience Against Sanctions: Reduced dependency on Western tech supply chains.
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Economic Leapfrogging: Emerging economies gain faster access to cutting-edge tools.
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Influence in Standards-Setting: SCO could challenge Western-led norms in AI governance.
Risks:
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Fragmentation of AI Ecosystem: Splitting into Western vs. SCO blocs could reduce global interoperability.
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Surveillance Exports: Critics fear China will export authoritarian AI systems to allies.
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Trust Deficits: Smaller SCO states may worry about Chinese dominance within the alliance.
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Security Concerns: AI collaboration in defense could escalate tensions with NATO and QUAD nations.
Global Implications
Xi’s SCO AI pitch signals several shifts in the global tech landscape:
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Multipolar Tech Order
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The world may see parallel AI ecosystems emerge—one Western-led, the other China-SCO-centric.
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AI as Diplomacy
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Just as the U.S. once used nuclear technology and space exploration to cement alliances, China is using AI as a diplomatic tool.
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New Standards War
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Competing frameworks for AI governance could complicate global cooperation on issues like ethics, bias, and safety.
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Acceleration of AI Arms Race
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As blocs form, the militarization of AI may intensify, with each side seeking dominance in autonomous systems and cyber capabilities.
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The Road Ahead
Xi’s speech at the SCO marks only the beginning of what could become a structured AI alliance among non-Western nations. Key questions remain:
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Will SCO institutionalize AI cooperation with formal agreements?
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Can China convince India and Central Asian states to embrace its leadership?
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How will the U.S. and Europe respond to a formalized AI bloc?
For now, Xi has made it clear that AI is not just about algorithms and innovation—it is about power, influence, and the future of the global order.
By using the SCO stage to push AI cooperation, Xi Jinping reframed artificial intelligence as a geopolitical tool, not just a technological one. His call for an AI alliance under SCO signals both a vision of multipolarity and a direct challenge to Western dominance.
Whether this becomes a new chapter in technological competition or a framework for balanced cooperation will depend on how SCO states, Western powers, and the broader international community respond. One thing is certain: AI has become the frontline of global rivalry, and Xi intends for China to lead.
