The 2026 World AI Conference in Shanghai unveiled a string of innovation outcomes and policy initiatives, while an expanded exhibition showcased hundreds of products making global debuts as China highlighted its latest advances in artificial intelligence. The event, held July 17–20, brought together governments, companies and experts to promote cooperation and debate governance issues.
## Exhibition scale and new product debuts
For the first time the conference exhibition exceeded 100,000 square meters, organizers said, with more than 1,100 enterprises participating. Exhibitors are presenting over 3,000 products and technologies, of which more than 300 are making their global debuts — a sign of intensified commercial activity and competition at the cutting edge of AI.
## Policy releases and international cooperation
At the conference the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), together with China Media Group and other government departments, jointly issued two documents, including an action plan on AI cooperation and development. That plan outlines actions across eight areas: data, computing power, ecosystems, industrial empowerment, talent development, rules and standards, governance and AI ethics. Also published at the forum was a collection of case studies on China’s international AI cooperation — the third consecutive year of such a collection — featuring 10 stories that illustrate the country’s collaborative projects abroad.
## Ethics, governance and agent interoperability
Organizers also released an action plan on international AI ethics governance and announced a China-led global initiative on mutual trust and interconnectivity among AI agents. These measures sit alongside broader high-level discussions at the conference aimed at shaping norms for responsible AI development and cross-border technical interoperability.
## Forums, dialogues and expert perspectives
Multiple sub-forums addressed hot topics such as global AI governance, embodied intelligence and intelligent computing power, and hosted high-level dialogues and achievement releases. A visiting industry representative described rapid progress: “I think that they are great and Chinese [products] are developing really fast. And we are a European company and we want to help also European companies grow as well as Chinese companies. We are in the data field, so we basically do the data for the robots’ intelligence.” UNESCO Chair Lampros Stergioulas emphasized the role of ethics: “So AI can help us in that, but we need to be in the driver’s seat… AI ethics, I mean, the principles are there to protect us, protect the human rights.”
The conference combined a large commercial showcase with policy announcements and expert debate, positioning the 2026 World AI Conference as both a market stage for new technologies and a forum for shaping international cooperation and governance around AI.
