The 2026 World AI Conference (WAIC) and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance concluded in Shanghai on Monday, producing a record 20.36 billion yuan ($3 billion) in intended purchases, a 25 percent year-on-year increase. Themed “AI Partnership for a Brighter Future,” the event drew representatives from 102 countries and international organizations, welcomed over 400,000 on-site visitors and generated more than 3 billion online views worldwide.
WAIC drives cooperation and major agreements
The conference produced a major diplomatic outcome with participating nations agreeing to establish the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, to be headquartered in Shanghai. Key outcome documents included the AI Cooperation and Development Action Plan and the International AI Ethical Governance Action Plan. “This conference was not only one of the largest and most influential international gatherings in the global AI field, but also China’s first high-level diplomatic event in the AI sector,” said Chen Jie, vice-mayor of Shanghai.
Economic momentum and large-scale investments
Organizers reported strong commercial momentum: 32 key Shanghai AI projects were signed with total investment exceeding 40.9 billion yuan. China Unicom launched its “UniAI. connecting Shanghai with AI” project, committing over 25 billion yuan to intelligent computing infrastructure in Shanghai, alongside strategic financial agreements to support innovative enterprises.
Innovation showcase, academia and youth participation
Across an exhibition space of more than 100,000 square meters, 1,117 companies displayed 4,486 exhibits, including 351 making their global debut. Highlighted technologies included China’s first near-memory computing 3D AI chip, various humanoid robots and AI dexterous hands. The conference attracted 177 major procurement delegations.
Academia and industry converged through 158 forums, pitch sessions for 180 startups and sessions featuring 11 laureates of Turing Awards, Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals. The 2026 International Embodied Intelligence Competition was launched, and Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng officially unveiled the Shanghai Institute for Physical AI and Robotics.
Youth engagement was a notable feature: more than 40 dedicated events involved 1,030 young AI talents from around the world, and over 60 startup projects were led by entrepreneurs born in the 1990s and 2000s. Xiong Yinjiang, a post-1995 founder and chairman of Light-standard, said: “During the conference, I felt the accelerated evolution of the new round of technological and industrial revolutions. AI is facing an unprecedented, historic explosion of opportunities.”
Reflecting on the outcomes, vice-mayor Chen identified five key trends shaping the industry: shifting from conceptual governance frameworks to concrete action; emphasizing secure, open, and multilaterally governed systems; systematic technological breakthroughs; deeper integration into manufacturing and daily life; and the rapid rise of young talent. “After nine years of cultivation, WAIC has become a window into humanity’s intelligent revolution and an important bridge for promoting global consultation, co-governance and shared benefits,” Chen noted, emphasizing that Shanghai will take pragmatic actions to make AI a trusted tool for humanity.
