"AI is more powerful than nuclear," Cyrus Hodes, founder of AI Safety Connect, told CGTN at the 2026 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit. That's why he believes China has a major role to play in setting up global AI safety standards. 

Hodes points out that the US, China and the EU are taking different paths to AI regulation: Washington has prioritized rapid deployment, Beijing and Brussels have established regulatory frameworks. 

He proposes creating an international body modeled on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to establish verification mechanisms. And he says China is uniquely positioned to help thanks to its massive ecosystem of chips, AI models and data.