29 nations unite to launch global AI cooperation body

Twenty-nine countries on Thursday signed an agreement to establish ​the World AI Cooperation Organization, ‌an intergovernmental body China says aims to promote international cooperation and global ​governance in artificial intelligence.

Representatives from ​the 29 countries, including Russia, Belarus, ⁠Serbia, Cuba, Brazil and Venezuela, ​as well as 10 African ​and 12 Asian countries, signed the agreement as founding members.

The organization’s headquarters will be ​located in Shanghai, Chinese state ​agency Xinhua said.

The signing ceremony was held ‌in ⁠Shanghai on the eve of the annual World Artificial Intelligence Conference, where Chinese President Xi Jinping is ​expected to ​outline an ⁠ambitious vision for Beijing’s role in global AI ​governance.

China proposed the creation of ​a ⁠World AI Cooperation Organization at last year’s conference but no countries ⁠had ​formally announced membership ​until now. Reuters