China open-sources Kimi K3, the world's largest AI model at 2.8 trillion parameters, as 38 countries join WAICO. Chip independence and safety frameworks are key themes.
China's push for chip self-reliance is the backdrop for the launch of Kimi K3, a new open-source AI model with 2.8 trillion parameters – the world's largest such model by that metric. Six of the top 10 global applicants for generative AI patents are based in China, and the Financial Times reported that Chinese companies are now leading in cost efficiency alongside innovation.
At the 2026 World AI Conference, President Xi Jinping called for AI to be guided by "human wisdom and international consensus." The event also saw the founding of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), with 38 countries as charter members. WAICO is the first intergovernmental international organization focused on AI, aiming to set standards for safety and cooperation.
The chip sector remains a critical focus. Zhangjiang Science City in Shanghai, where the conference was held, is home to hundreds of chip design, manufacturing, packaging, and testing firms, representing about a fifth of China's total industry output. Moore Threads founder Zhang Jianzhong said computing power is "the cornerstone of AI development and governance," and that independence and controllability are essential.
On the local application front, SmartMore's AI visual reasoning platform has been deployed in Midea's "AI agent factories" in Guangdong and Hubei, bringing inspection speed in line with production rhythm. iFLYTEK Healthcare's "AI Medical Assistant" has improved medical record writing efficiency in hospitals in Sichuan and Anhui. Chinese smartphone maker Honor launched what it called the world's first Robot Phone on Aug. 12.
China released the AI Safety Governance Framework versions 1.0 and 2.0, embedding safety requirements across model development, deployment, and application. A Global Large Language Model Safety Evaluation Report tested 38 models from China and abroad on 313 high-risk science and technology questions. Tsinghua University dean Zhu Xufeng said balancing development and security is key to guiding the industry toward sustainable growth.
Chinese open-source AI models have been downloaded more than 10 billion times globally. The AtomGit open-source community has more than 11 million registered users. The "Fenghe" large language model for meteorological services was launched, and an international action plan on AI ethics governance was outlined.
In Cambodia, a smart rice-fish farming project supported by China raised annual income per hectare from about $1,000 to more than $3,000. In Thailand, the YUKON mining operating system improved efficiency by 16% and cut electricity use by 20%. SCG International General Manager Jirapat Janjerdsak said the technology enabled "zero casualty, high efficiency, and low emissions."
China announced plans to provide 5,000 AI training and seminar opportunities to developing countries over the next five years, and to develop AI application cooperation centers with ASEAN, the Arab League, the African Union, CELAC, the SCO, and BRICS.
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