Jorge Heine Discusses AI Governance and Global Cooperation Post-World AI Conference
In a July 2026 interview for the China Global Television Network (CGTN), former Pardee School Research Professor Jorge Heine reflected on the recent World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, where a new initiative involving 29 countries—World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO)— was established, aimed at promoting international collaboration on AI. The annual conference, one of the world’s leading gatherings on AI innovation and policy, brought together government officials, industry leaders, and researchers to discuss the future of the technology and its global implications. During the conversation, Heine highlighted the growing significance of artificial intelligence and the need for international cooperation to manage its impact
Describing the transformative potential of the technology, Heine argued that “the AI revolution is at par, if not more significant, than the steam engine revolution, the electricity revolution, and the internet revolution.” He praised efforts to develop international frameworks for AI governance, stating that “it is important that countries get together and look for ways to make the most of it and keep it under control.” He added that WAICO represents “an important step in the right direction” as governments seek to maximize the benefits of AI while addressing its risks.
Heine also emphasized the importance of ensuring that developing countries are active participants in the emerging AI ecosystem rather than merely consumers of technologies developed elsewhere. Calling for stronger engagement between Latin American countries and leading AI powers, he warned against a technological “wild west in which everything goes” and stressed the need for effective governance. Looking ahead, Heine suggested that AI could become a new arena of international diplomacy, noting that a growing “AI divide” risks mirroring existing digital inequalities. Efforts to expand cooperation and narrow that gap, he argued, will play an increasingly important role in shaping the global balance of power in the years ahead.
A former research professor at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, Jorge Heine is a diplomat, international relations scholar, and lawyer. He is currently a non-resident fellow at the Quincy Institute. He has served as an ambassador of Chile to China, India, and South Africa. Heine has written over fifteen books, including The Non-Aligned World: Striking Out in an Era of Great Power Competition (2025), which provides insights on how the Global South can navigate the changing diplomatic landscape amid the U.S.-China rivalry.