AI conference opens in Shanghai with over 300 global product debuts

Shanghai is hosting the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) from July 17 to 20. More than 1,100 exhibitors have taken part, showcasing over 3,000 exhibits, with more than 300 products making their global debuts.

The conference also features more than 140 forums and brings together over 1,400 speakers and guests from China and around the world.

Humanoid robots remain one of the biggest attractions. Visitors can see robots designed for practical tasks rather than simple demonstrations. One of the highlights is a human-sized service robot that can greet visitors, answer questions and assist customers in places such as exhibition centers, hotels and retail stores. The growing focus is on robots that can be deployed in real working environments.

The conference also features a wide range of AI technologies, including multimodal AI models, AI agent systems, high-performance computing platforms, advanced AI chips and AI-powered smartphones. Together, they show how competition in AI is expanding beyond software to include computing power and intelligent hardware.

Alongside the technology showcase, the conference is also a platform for discussions on AI governance. As artificial intelligence becomes part of everyday life, this year's event offers a snapshot of how the industry is moving from research to real-world applications.