The WAIC has transformed into a nationwide AI carnival. Forums, creator meet-ups, and pop-up investment institution activities spill out of every hallway.
This weekend, every table along the Huangpu River will buzz with pitches, demos, and impromptu partnerships, Wang Qiuhua, a representative from an AI software company in Beijing, told the Global Times on Saturday.
The conference offers China a platform to showcase its latest AI advancements to the global community, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on Friday.
The US administration on Wednesday released a 28-page AI Action Plan designed to further aim at tightening controls on AI technology exports to China and limit the spread of Chinese AI models, as part of Washington’s broader effort to shape the rules governing the fast-moving technology, said the SCMP report.
The move reflects Washington’s broader intentions: strengthening chip export controls on China, building an AI alliance designed to isolate China, and framing global AI diplomacy and governance targeting China, Tian Feng, president of the Fast Think Institute and former dean of Chinese AI software giant SenseTime’s Intelligence Industry Research Institute, told the Global Times on Saturday.
WAIC 2025 serves not only as a technology showcase but also as a global dialogue forum on AI governance, as well as a cooperation platform for enterprises across the AI supply chain, Tian noted.
According to information shared by the organizers with the Global Times, the event features a lineup of renowned international scientists, global leaders, and industry players. Nobel laureate and “AI godfather” Geoffrey Hinton, Harry Shum, council chairman at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and Turing Award winner Andrew Yao, secretary-General of ASEAN Kao Kim Hourn, vice president of Developer Ecosystems at Nvidia Neil Trevett, representatives from Google, Tesla and Microsoft, are among the participants.
“As an engine of global economic growth, China’s strong industrial foundation, diverse industry applications and abundant innovation resources have laid a solid foundation for the industrialization of AI. At the same time, new productivity emphasizes the driving force of scientific and technological innovation, and AI technology is the key driving force,” Philippe Rambach, chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, Schneider Electric, told the Global Times on Saturday.
China has become a global highland for AI industry development and a key node in Schneider Electric’s global AI innovation strategy, Philippe Rambach said. In China, the policy support of “AI+”, a strong industrial foundation, diverse application scenarios, and abundant innovation resources are giving birth to a rapidly emerging AI industry cluster, making China a highland for the development of the global AI industry and the most active global market in practicing large-scale AI applications.
Compared to the US’ protectionist and hegemonic approach to AI development, the broad participation of enterprises, scholars and officials from across the world at the WAIC demonstrates the robust vitality of international AI cooperation while also underscoring openness and exchange are the future of global AI, Tian noted.
China’s influence in the field of AI has grown significantly, according to a report from the China Internet Network Information Center. As of March, 346 generative AI services had completed registration with the Cyberspace Administration of China. In 2024, China’s AI market surpassed 700 billion yuan ($97.65 billion), maintaining a growth rate of more than 20 percent, Xinhua reported.
