167: Chapter 167 The Expected Result

At the United Nations headquarters in New York, the atmosphere in the massive conference hall was almost stagnant.

Compared to the previous meeting, the tension was now more palpable.

The desks before the representatives of various countries were piled with thicker stacks of documents; the whispers among delegation members were more cautious; even the staff responsible for delivering documents walked with noticeably lighter steps.

The delegation from Rabbit Country still occupied the same seats as before, with their chief representative, Zhou Zhengyang, maintaining a calm, placid expression.

He meticulously organized his speech notes, occasionally exchanging a quiet word or two with his deputy beside him.

The chairman struck the gavel, its crisp sound piercing the silence of the chamber.

"We now proceed to the final vote on the proposal 'On Strengthening International Cooperation for the Security, Reliability, and Controllability of Artificial Intelligence Systems.'"

Almost the moment the words fell, the representative from Eagle Country, Williams, raised his hand.

Granted permission to speak, he adjusted his microphone, his tone carrying a carefully crafted note of regret.

"Mr. Chairman, after weeks of in-depth study by our nation's experts and extensive consultations with various parties, we must point out that while the proposal's original intent is understandable, its core clauses suffer from fundamental flaws."

He paused briefly, his gaze sweeping across the hall before finally settling on the direction of the Rabbit Country delegation.

"At this critical juncture in the development of human civilization, we should choose to embrace innovation, not be shackled by uncertainty.

Artificial Intelligence represents the direction of the future. Any excessive restrictions, even in the name of safety, may inadvertently become chains that fetter progress."

The representative from John Bull Country, Emerson, spoke immediately after, his phrasing more subtle but no less sharp.

"We agree that AI ethics and safety must be taken seriously.

However, a regulatory framework must be built on a realistic foundation and formulated jointly by technological leaders and major stakeholders.

It is regrettable that the current version of the proposal appears to reflect the technological concerns of certain specific nations more than it does a global consensus."

The slight upward curve of his lips made his unspoken words perfectly clear.

The representative from Gallic Rooster Country, Dupont, was far more blunt, almost tearing through the customary diplomatic veneer.

"We cannot accept the pace of global technological progress being held back by the anxieties of individual nations.

Innovation should not become a casualty of geopolitical games."

His voice echoed in the quiet hall, eliciting a wave of hushed whispers.

The representative from Chicken Country, Tanaka Kenichi, adjusted his glasses, his tone polite yet his stance firm:

"The formulation of international technical standards has always followed the principles of technological advancement and practical guidance.

We believe any global framework should fully respect this tradition."

One representative after another took the floor, their tones varied, but their core message was startlingly consistent.

Opposition to the Rabbit Country proposal.

Some representatives from small and medium-sized nations didn't even dare to look towards the Rabbit Country delegation as they spoke.

The representative from Bear Country, Ivanov, attempted to break this one-sided trend:

"We believe the safety concerns raised by the Representative of Rabbit Country are reasonable and forward-looking. The international community should not ignore potential risks..."

But his voice was quickly drowned out by the murmurs of other representatives. Several Western representatives even deliberately rustled their papers, creating sounds of impatience.

"Technical capability is the foundation for participating in rule-making,"

a representative from a certain country muttered sarcastically, his voice just loud enough to be heard by those nearby.

"Without convincing technological achievements, what right does one have to demand others accept the rules they set?"

"It's like someone who can't swim demanding to change the pool rules."

The voting process held no suspense.

When the final results were displayed on the electronic screen,

apart from Bear Country and a few developing nations with longstanding friendly ties to Rabbit Country voting in favor, the overwhelming majority of countries cast opposing votes.

An atmosphere of relief actually washed over the chamber.

The Eagle Country representative, Williams, didn't even wait for the chairman to formally announce the result before turning to his aide with a triumphant smile.

After the chairman formally announced the proposal's rejection, Williams even secured a final opportunity to speak:

"We hope this outcome will help certain nations recognize reality and focus their energies on improving their own technological level, rather than attempting to change the rules of the game through political means."

His words provoked a wave of restrained chuckles within the hall.

At that moment, the Rabbit Country representative, Zhou Zhengyang, slowly rose to his feet.

Surprisingly, his face showed no trace of frustration or anger. Instead, it held a nearly transcendent calm.

He adjusted the height of his microphone.

"I thank the representatives for their candid remarks,"

his voice was steady and firm, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.

"We understand and respect the outcome of the vote. The United Nations is a diverse platform; it is normal diplomatic practice for nations to make different choices based on their respective positions."

He paused briefly, his gaze slowly sweeping the hall, lingering for a moment on the faces of the representatives from several major opposing nations.

"We have noted that many representatives emphasized that technological strength is the foundation for participating in the formulation of international rules.

That is a most interesting viewpoint."

The corners of Zhou Zhengyang's mouth lifted slightly, forming an arc that was difficult to interpret.

"In that case, we look forward to revisiting this topic with everyone in the near future, when the landscape of technological development presents a new configuration.

We hope that by then, everyone will still maintain the same confidence and resolve they displayed today."

He offered a slight, polite bow towards the podium, then returned to his seat with unruffled composure.

Throughout the entire process, there was not a hint of panic or strain in his demeanor.

An eerie silence descended upon the hall.

The Eagle Country representative Williams's brow furrowed involuntarily; the John Bull Country representative Emerson subconsciously adjusted his tie; the Gallic Rooster Country representative Dupont exchanged a look of confusion with his aide.

The Rabbit Country representative's reaction was too calm, calm enough to be disquieting.

After the meeting concluded, reports from international media flooded in rapidly.

The CNN evening news anchor wore a smile:

"Rabbit Country's AI restriction proposal at the United Nations was overwhelmingly rejected. This diplomatic setback highlights that in the field of cutting-edge technology, capability, not ambition, is the key factor determining influence."

The BBC report carried a hint of sarcasm:

"The attempt to transform technological anxiety into international rules has utterly failed. This indicates that in the AI field, certain nations still need to face the reality of the gap."

The editorial headline in *The New York Times* was even more merciless.

*When Ambition Meets Reality: Why Rabbit Country's AI Restriction Proposal Was Doomed to Fail*.

The article began:

"When a nation is clearly lagging in a particular technological field, the most natural response is not to catch up, but to try and change the rules of the game.

But today's UN vote proves that such a strategy does not work in reality."

In contrast, the reaction on the domestic internet was surprisingly subdued.

Although related topics trended, their popularity was far from the fervor seen during the previous GPT-5 launch.

On Weibo, the well-known international affairs blogger @GlobalObserver posted:

"The proposal's failure was entirely within expectations. International competition is never a one-step process; it's a long-term endeavor. I believe the relevant authorities have already considered the full picture."

Most comments expressed agreement, with no intense emotional outbursts.

On Zhihu, attention to related questions was also moderate. One answer analyzed calmly:

"From the perspective of diplomatic strategy, proposing a motion one knows may be rejected can sometimes be a tactic in itself.

It can clarify a position, gauge reactions, and lay the groundwork for subsequent actions.

This calm reaction, in fact, suggests that the real contest may have just begun."

Like the calm before a storm, the Rabbit Country authorities offered no official statement regarding the rejection of this proposal.

Internet information is always rapidly changing. Once this matter lost its prominence, the focus of online discussion shifted elsewhere.