China Launches WAICO in Shanghai as the West Sits Out AI Governance

China led the launch of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, or WAICO, at the World AI Conference in Shanghai.

Twenty-nine countries signed the founding documents; Russia and several others joined, while the U.S., EU, U.K., Japan, and South Korea stayed out.

The move formalizes a China-led AI governance track, separate from the Western-led policy framework.

It signals growing fragmentation in global AI standards and compliance rules, creating added complexity for multinational companies.