By Adetoro Banwo
Our world has made giant strides in technological and innovation revolution and this has led to the development of Artificial intelligence. AI is the foremost task of using computers or machines to perform human capabilities and abilities such as solving problems, making choices and learning at a much more advance rate, speed and precision. It adopts the use of data to create patterns, access new information and deviates itself from human feeling and sentiments with its use of computations. The research works of Alan Turing in the 1930s has led to one of the vital revolutionary forces in the 21st century.

China has made giant strides in the AI Industry; Liang Wengfeng 2023 development of DeepSeek has shown the world that China has the ability to adopt artificial intelligence in developing large language models while competiting with Western Chatboxes like ChatGPT and Gemini. It has successfully used AI in the transportation industry, robotaxis now are used in some parts of China, Apollo Go created by Baidu the tech giants have improved commuting problems in China and have shown China’s rapid progress and scientific achievements.

Despite these laudable achievements, AI poses serious risks and threats to human race and its core existence.

In 2023, President XI Jinping launched the Global AI Governance Initiative (GAIGI) to promote, regulate and seek AI’s usage for the creative, ethical, development and prosperous purposes of mankind.

China through its policy paper has called on the global community to adopt the use of AI in solving global issues such as climate change and biodiversity conservation. Its premises hinges on AI should benefit human civilisation. As such it has launched sky-ground sea networks in which it uses underwater cameras, drones and satellite to monitor and build ecological grids. Huaweis bird’s eye view project adopts the use of AI through cloud computing and 5G in wildlife protection in Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve which is a crucial ecosystem for migratory birds and wetland species.

Additionally, it has called on nations to use AI in maintaining public order and regulating the affairs of the state. China has used AI to maintain and regulate social stability through its surveillance networks such as the Gold Shield Project and the Great Firewall of China to ensure public opinions are secure while guiding against the spreading of disinformation. It’s focal point is to protect the rights and privileges of the people.

Furthermore, it has called on nations to cooperate together in the AI research, development and application to ensure global peace and development. China’s cooperation with African countries in the area of surveillance has improved state peace and stability by providing the necessary information on threats to governance and security that has ensured safe cities across the continent and guided their policy actions to flourish. Eleven African countries (Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe) have all cooperated with China in the research and development of surveillance systems to promote smart cities by tracking license plates and facial recognitions.

Also, it has urged for the adoption of AI technologies in securing global peace by ensuring national military apparatuses research and develop applications that will aid their work. The Peoples Liberation Army has developed drones, robot dogs, advanced radio communications, intelligent platforms and decision making systems. The central aim is to build an intelligent military system, transform the art of warfare through intelligent command systems, platforms and managements.

China has called on developed and developing nations to share AI knowledge and technology to foster global development and progress. It has created the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO) in Shanghai to collaborate with the global south on the sharing and development of AI technology. Twenty-nine countries from Africa, Asia and Europe have all agreed to extensive consultation, joint collaboration and upholding the UN charter in ensuring a people-oriented approach to the development of AI.

President XI has said that AI development should not be a solo performance by a single country but a symphony of international cooperation. At this conference, China pushed for a robust collaboration and sharing of ideas in the era of AI to build capacities of nations so that they can achieve their developmental goals and ultimately attain the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
AI empowerment, innovation, Open source mechanism, data management, AI integration and energy systems, social transformations, product and service delivery amongst others were their policy blueprints. Specifically, this conference has championed the bridging of the AI divide with global south counties and offer scientific and technological forms of cooperation that will respect the sovereignty and diversity of nations.

The AI divide evident in Africa can be bridged in two core areas, first in the area of security and then agriculture. In the face of terrorism and insecurity, Africa can learn and adopt China’s approach in the use of artificial intelligence in surveillance and preventive counterterrorism measures. The use of AI to detect and spot early signs of unrest and identify people of interests in public spaces through big data, computer modelling and machine learning are significant steps African leaders can adopt to ensure a stable and prosperous society.

Secondly, in the era of global warming that has plummeted Africa with famine, drought and food production, Africa can partner China in the area of agriculture, especially applying digital technologies to food security issues in the continent. China’s green shield project that assists farmers in crop health, pest management and pesticide application can also assist Africa tackle its growing food security systems. Green Houses and smart Agriculture which are very popular in China can be modelled across Africa. The use of robots, big data, cutting edge technologies and precision driven practices can he shared with African farmers to boost production efficiency and management control.

Lastly, China’s practices aligns with the goals of the United Nations that has called for a Global Dialogue on AI Governance which champions international cooperation, inclusive and transparent collaboration, and share the best practices to address the opportunities and the risks of AI.

Adetoro Olaniyi Banwo writes from University of Lagos, Nigeria