Twenty-nine nations have officially signed an agreement in Shanghai, China, to establish the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO). The signing ceremony, which took place on Thursday, included representatives from countries such as Russia, Kazakhstan, Laos, Pakistan, and Indonesia, all of whom have now become the organization's founding members.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi presided over the signing, which was also attended by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Under the terms of the agreement, WAICO will operate as an independent intergovernmental international organization with its headquarters based in Shanghai.
The organization is designed to advance international cooperation and global governance regarding artificial intelligence. According to the agreement, WAICO will uphold the purposes of the UN Charter, adhere to a people-centred approach, and commit to extensive consultation and joint contributions for shared benefit. Its primary mission is to ensure that AI technology remains safe, fair, and beneficial to all of humanity, while promoting its healthy and orderly development.
The initiative for the organization was first proposed by China in July of last year. The formation of WAICO arrives just ahead of the four-day World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), which is scheduled to commence in Shanghai on Friday.
