World AI Cooperation Organization (WAICO)

The World AI Cooperation Organization (WAICO) is an AI cooperation group that China put together with a number of other countries. Just as the U.S. has bound together allied nations around its own companies' AI models and chip supply chains, China has done something similar—rallying countries around AI technology from its own camp.

The weapon this organization wields is the open-weight AI model. By promoting models that anyone can freely access and use, the idea is to offer an alternative to countries that don't want to depend on AI models from U.S. companies. It's a bit like two companies competing for customers, one pushing a paid premium service and the other a free, open version.

When WAICO launched in July 2026, 29 countries—including Kazakhstan—signed on as founding members. Some of these countries are also part of the U.S.-led coalition at the same time, so if pressure grows for them to pick a side, how they choose is drawing close attention.

In the article, it appears in a sentence like: "In July, Chinese President Xi Jinping launched the World AI Cooperation Organization (WAICO) in response." It's important not to confuse WAICO with the name of a specific AI model or service—it refers to an international body made up of multiple countries, not a company like OpenAI or Anthropic.