US Warns Allies: Join China-Led AI Group at Your Own Risk

The US is preparing a draft letter warning allies to choose between joining a China-led AI group and participating in US-centered cooperation on AI, semiconductors, and critical-mineral supply chains.

Countries that join the World AI Cooperation Organization (WAICO) could be excluded from US-centered initiatives, according to Reuters. The move is seen as an attempt by Washington to block China's access to resources needed for advanced AI development.

The draft letter, addressed to 35 countries, including South Korea, Japan, and Australia, which are part of the Pax Silica framework, urges them to 'choose their AI course carefully.' The letter does not mention China directly but warns against joining overlapping initiatives that conflict with US expectations.

Kazakhstan is the only country confirmed to have joined both WAICO and a US-led initiative. Reuters reported that it is among the recipients of the draft letter. A US government official was quoted as saying, 'It is hard to understand how a country can credibly present itself as a trusted partner in one technology ecosystem while also joining an initiative designed by China to advance a competing vision for AI.'

China pushed back against the move, stating that trade and technology issues should not be politicized. The Chinese Embassy in Washington said such steps would only hinder global AI development and serve no one's interests.