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Hao Nan
Hao Nan

Opinion | China’s AI push in the Global South is not just about technology

By providing AI-powered products, infrastructure, governance tools and data-driven insights, China aims to reshape the global digital order

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People stand next to a humanoid robot from Unitree Robotics during the Global Developer Conference, organised by the Shanghai AI Industry Association, in Shanghai on February 21. Photo: AFP
Hao Nan

China’s rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping the dynamics of global technology and one of the most consequential shifts is taking place beyond the traditional AI power centres of Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. China’s AI influence is expanding across the Global South, from Africa to Latin America and Southeast Asia.

With affordable AI-powered products, investments in digital infrastructure and a growing influence in AI governance, China is positioning itself as the dominant AI player in developing economies. This expansion is not just about technology – it is about reshaping the global digital order.
China’s AI expansion is guided by a clear strategy. The 2017 New Generation AI Development Plan laid out a road map to make China the global AI leader by 2030, focusing on breakthroughs in AI infrastructure, applications and industrial integration . It aligns with China’s “digital silk road” initiative, which promotes digital infrastructure projects, including fibre optic networks, 5G, cloud computing and AI-powered services.

While the United States and Europe adopt a more cautious approach to AI deployment, China has aggressively pushed forward, integrating AI into economic partnerships with Global South countries.

One key advantage is the Chinese integration of AI into cost-effective consumer products that are widely adopted. Companies like Huawei Technologies, Xiaomi and BYD embed AI into their smartphones, home devices and electric vehicles, making AI widely accessible in markets with lower purchasing power.

Unlike American AI models, which often require high-end computing infrastructure, China’s AI is optimised for lower-power devices, which is more practical for regions with weaker digital infrastructure. This gives China a strategic edge in markets where Western AI solutions are too expensive or incompatible.

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