[AI and Humanity (10) – Interview] Li Haonan, Chairman of Ximeng AI: "A...

The AI Industry Is Undergoing Structural Change

Gaining an Edge Through Trust, Safety, and Scalability

Mutual Prosperity and Sustainability Are Key

Shifting from a Competition of Capabilities to a Competition of Scalability

AI Trustworthiness Is a Prerequisite for Industrialization

Ensuring Stability Through National Policy

Li Haonan, Chairman of Ximeng AI, is a young AI entrepreneur leading the development of enterprise AI systems and agent solutions. He demonstrated his innovative capabilities by developing a DeepSeek-based smart mouse that enables voice input and automatic PowerPoint generation. He is currently collaborating with companies such as Huawei to expand the application of AI in industrial settings. (Source: Ximeng AI)

Ahead of the Global AI Forum for Humanity (GAFH) 2026, to be held in Seoul on June 12, Cheonji Ilbo is featuring a relay interview series with key speakers. Under the theme “Trustworthy AI for the Common Good of Humanity,” the forum will explore human-centered values, ethics, and global governance. Through insights from experts across fields, it aims to examine the direction of the AI era and envision a future that goes beyond technology to serve humanity and society.

[Cheonji Ilbo=Reporter Kim Nuri] “Artificial intelligence (AI) has now established itself as a form of public infrastructure. Amid the structural changes currently underway, the key to seizing genuine opportunities lies in whether we can transform AI into an industrial system and deploy it on a large scale.”

Li Haonan, Chairman of Ximeng AI, who will deliver the keynote address for Session 3 of the Global AI Forum for Human Prosperity (GAFH 2026) to be held in Seoul this June, stated this in a written interview with this newspaper, adding, “The AI industry has entered a stage where it is reorganizing industrial systems and social structures as a whole, moving beyond technological competition.”

Chairman Li assessed that the global AI industry is currently undergoing structural changes. He also noted that the forum’s theme, “Common Prosperity for Humanity,” is not merely an added value of AI but a prerequisite for sustainable development. He further predicted that AI systems can help disseminate technology, opportunities, and capabilities.

◆“The Key Is the Transformation of Industrial Systems”

Chairman Lee assessed that the global AI industry is currently undergoing three structural changes.

He noted, “The focus of AI competition is shifting from ‘model performance’ to ‘institutional and governance capabilities,’” adding, “Entities capable of building trustworthy, safe, and scalable systems will secure a long-term competitive advantage.”

He also noted, “AI is spreading across all industries, going beyond mere technological breakthroughs,” and predicted, “The value of AI will depend not on the models themselves, but on how extensively productivity can be scaled.”

Furthermore, Chairman Li predicted that as AI establishes itself not merely as a single commercial tool but as a form of public infrastructure, the key question will be, “Who can transform AI into an industrial system and deploy it on a massive scale?”

◆ “AI, the Key to Shared Prosperity”

Regarding the forum’s theme of “shared prosperity for humanity,” Chairman Li defined it as “not merely the added value of AI, but a prerequisite for sustainability.”

He emphasized, “The key is not distribution but diffusion,” adding, “AI is not a competition of capabilities but a system of diffusion.” Chairman Li proposed the following as an AI framework for shared prosperity: ▲technology diffusion ▲Opportunity Diffusion ▲Capacity Diffusion as a framework for shared prosperity.

He explained that technology must not be concentrated in a few institutions; instead, more companies should be able to participate in the AI value chain, and a structure must be created that allows individuals to utilize AI as well.

Chairman Li emphasized, “AI must not remain at the technological stage but must enter the real economy through system integration and industrial application,” adding that this is “one of the key topics to be focused on at the forum.”

◆“Trust: A Prerequisite for Scaling AI”

Chairman Lee emphasized that trust in AI systems is not a “constraint on innovation.”

“For responsible AI innovation, I believe that a human-centered approach, trust and explainability, fairness and non-discrimination, and proactive risk management are non-negotiable,” Chairman Lee said. “In particular, trust can be considered a prerequisite for scaling.”

He noted, “In practical industrial applications, if a system cannot be explained or audited, it cannot enter key sectors such as finance, healthcare, and public administration,” adding, “The reliability of AI is not an ethical choice but a prerequisite for industrialization.”

Chairman Li drew a clear line, stating that these conditions cannot be addressed by a single technology alone.

Chairman Li emphasized, “The reliability of AI requires a structure that integrates technology, institutions, and industry.” Technologically, he highlighted the need for ▲ explainable AI, ▲ privacy protection technologies, and ▲ a full lifecycle audit system; institutionally, he stressed the need for ▲ an integrated certification system, ▲ risk-based regulation, and ▲ a data governance system.

He added, “This is not theory but operational requirements for practical industrial application,” noting that “without these conditions, AI cannot enter core industries.”

Li Haonan, Chairman of China’s Ximeng AI, explains Ximeng Technology products to Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Courtesy of Ximeng AI)

◆“The Essence of Policy: Fostering Inclusive Innovation”

Chairman Li also emphasized the role of national policy in the growth of AI startups.

Chairman Li defined the core roles of China’s current national policies as: ▲building the foundation (computing power and data infrastructure); ▲expanding the application environment (with a focus on the public sector); ▲establishing rules (standards and governance systems); and ▲providing a safety net (financial and talent support).

He continued, “The essence of policy is not to replace the market, but to make innovation scalable, predictable, and inclusive,” adding, “Institutional stability must be secured for companies to make long-term investments.”

He also noted that startups’ strategies within the AI ecosystem must evolve.

Chairman Lee said, “In the current ecosystem, startups should focus on three core competencies rather than broad, comprehensive strategies,” adding, “They need depth of understanding regarding industrial applications, system integration capabilities, and expertise in trust and governance.”

He explained, “While competitiveness begins with model capabilities, it is ultimately determined by the process of system integration leading to industrial application,” noting, “This is also the approach we have consistently validated while applying enterprise AI in the field.”

◆“AI: Competition in Technology, Cooperation in Governance”

Chairman Lee analyzed that the global competitive landscape is shifting.

“The future of AI is clear,” he said. “We will compete in technological capabilities and cooperate in governance,” he explained, noting that “competition enhances efficiency, while cooperation ensures safety.”

He continued, “A key shift is that global AI competition is transitioning from model competition to competition in system capabilities,” adding that “in this environment, standards, governance, and infrastructure become the core areas of international cooperation.”

He predicted, “Over the next three to five years, the AI industry will expand from model competition to a focus on reliability and practical application; from a consumer internet-centric approach to an industrial systems-centric one; and from competition between nations to global governance.”

Accordingly, Chairman Lee also forecast that the future of AI will be defined not by performance, but by “how widely it is applied and trusted.”

◆“The Future of AI: A Collective Choice for Humanity”

Chairman Lee predicted that this forum would serve as “an opportunity to establish a framework for the future of AI.”

“The significance of this forum is very clear,” Chairman Li explained. “The future of AI must be defined not by technological monopolies but by a shared choice of humanity; innovation and governance can evolve together, and the ultimate goal is not efficiency but shared prosperity.”

He continued, “This forum is not merely a discussion but a venue for creating an actionable framework that encompasses industrial structure, governance, and international cooperation,” emphasizing that “the future of AI is an issue the entire world must address together.”

Li Haonan, Chairman of China’s Ximeng AI, delivers a speech at the special event titled “New Quality Driven, Wisdom Shaping the Future.” (Courtesy of Ximeng AI)

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