China has proposed a global action plan to govern artificial intelligence, just days after the United States unveiled its own plan to promote US dominance of the rapidly growing field that’s become a key bargaining chip in trade talks between the economic powerhouses.

Unitree Robotics ' robots are seen engaged in a boxing match at the Shanghai Expo Center on July 27, 2025. The Hangzhou-based firm presented a lineup of embodied artificial intelligence innovations at this year's World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), held in Shanghai. Photo: VCG

The US and China are escalating their AI competition, each launching new action plans to secure leadership in this critical technology