29 nations establish World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization

A group of 29 countries has signed an agreement to establish the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), a new intergovernmental body aimed at strengthening global cooperation and governance around artificial intelligence.

The agreement was signed in Shanghai, according to China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency, making the participating countries founding members of the organization. Signatories include Kazakhstan, Laos, Pakistan, Russia, and Indonesia.

Headquartered in Shanghai, WAICO will operate as an independent international organization, providing a platform for member states to collaborate on AI policy, development, and governance.

According to the agreement, the organization will uphold the principles of the United Nations Charter while promoting consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits among its members. It will also adopt a people-centered approach to AI development.

WAICO aims to strengthen international cooperation and develop governance frameworks that ensure AI remains safe, fair, and beneficial. Its broader objective is to promote the responsible and orderly development of the technology for the benefit of societies worldwide.

The launch comes as governments around the world step up efforts to coordinate AI regulation and standards amid the rapid adoption of generative AI and growing concerns over safety, ethics, and cross-border governance.