The 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance will begin this Saturday in Shanghai, bringing together over 800 exhibitors and delegations from 40 countries. The three-day event aims to deepen global collaboration in artificial intelligence against a backdrop of rising protectionism and technological decoupling.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang is scheduled to attend the opening ceremony, which coincides with the 98th anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army. The event is themed “Global Solidarity in the AI Era,” emphasizing inclusive development and international cooperation in the face of increasing Western restrictions on China’s AI sector.
Tech Giants and Startups Showcase Innovations
More than 3,000 AI-related exhibits will be displayed across four thematic zones: core technologies, smart terminals, industrial applications, and universal connectivity. Global heavyweights like Google, Amazon Web Services, and Cisco will participate alongside Chinese leaders, including Huawei, Alibaba, and iFlytek.
Huawei is set to debut its largest Supernode 384 computing architecture, while Cisco will present its CX Generative Intelligent Operations platform globally for the first time. Siemens’ Industrial Copilot and Tesla’s humanoid Tesla Bot will also be featured. Chinese startup MiniMax will showcase a full suite of AI-native products, including generative models, smart apps, and AI agents.
Agibot, another Chinese firm, will unveil the Lingxi X2-Pro humanoid robot, engineered for use in industries ranging from manufacturing and logistics to entertainment and education. The firm noted that 2025 marks the transition of humanoid robots from concept to commercialisation.
Across WAIC’s sprawling expo floor, 128 check-in points span ten themed zones. A “WAIC City Walk” feature will connect 16 districts across Shanghai, creating an immersive citywide AI experience. Robots will interact with visitors in traditional Shanghai alley settings, performing precise tasks like drumming, calligraphy, and cooking.
Push for Inclusive Global AI Governance
Beyond technology showcases, the WAIC will also focus on AI governance and international cooperation. China intends to use the platform to promote multilateral dialogue and resist attempts to monopolise the technology. According to Chinese officials, this year’s event represents a turning point for developing countries accessing open-source AI tools, particularly large language models.
Examples like DeepSeek’s use in recent disaster relief operations in Myanmar were highlighted to emphasise China’s constructive global role in AI deployment. Scholars at the event will contrast China’s inclusive approach to AI governance with the US’s restrictive strategies, such as sanctions on Huawei’s chips and curbs on AI model exports.
Despite pressure from Washington, Chinese firms continue to make breakthroughs. According to a new report by the China Internet Network Information Centre, domestic AI products now feature multi-modal functions, operate at scales of hundreds of billions of parameters, and are being rapidly integrated into real-world use cases across industries like education, content creation, and industrial design.
China Promotes Open Cooperation
WAIC 2025, through its high-level dialogues and vast participation, is expected to reinforce the global consensus that open collaboration, not unilateralism, is the path forward for AI development.
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