The 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai showcased China's rising leadership in AI development, drawing over 800 companies and 3,000 exhibits from 30+ countries and regions. Under the theme "Global Solidarity in the AI Era," the event highlighted cutting-edge applications from autonomous vehicles to smart city solutions, while sparking critical discussions about international governance frameworks.
From Labs to Daily Life
Four exhibition halls mapped AI's evolution, featuring large language models, humanoid robots, and real-world industrial applications. Huawei's debut of its Ascend 384 AI compute node system underscored China's push for advanced computing infrastructure. Over 100 product launches demonstrated AI's expanding role in consumer tech, including smart glasses enabling real-time navigation and mobile payments.
Driving Commercial Adoption
The conference revealed accelerating AI integration across Chinese cities, with new demonstration licenses issued for autonomous driving networks. Startups connected with investors through the Full-Domain Linkage Pavilion, signaling growing momentum for scalable commercial solutions in fintech, manufacturing, and urban management.
Call for Global Collaboration
Chinese officials emphasized balancing innovation with safety, proposing an international AI cooperation organization. The "China solution" framework advocates open-source development and technology sharing, particularly with developing nations, while addressing ethical risks through multilateral dialogue.
