China Pushes AI Access for Developing Nations

China is expanding access to its artificial intelligence technology, particularly for countries in the Global South. At the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, President Xi Jinping announced plans to help 30 countries utilize China’s MAZU meteorological system, which aids in early warning systems for extreme weather, and to provide AI training for 5,000 people from developing nations over the next five years.

China is also promoting open-source AI models like DeepSeek and Alibaba’s Qwen, which have seen over 10 billion cumulative downloads globally. These models offer significantly lower costs compared to some Western alternatives, making AI development more accessible.

The initiatives aim to bridge the growing AI divide between high-income and developing countries, where access to AI systems and computing capacity remains unevenly distributed. China hopes to foster a fair and inclusive global AI governance system through international cooperation and shared benefits.