The World Artificial Intelligence Conference opened in Shanghai on July 17, 2026, bringing together over 1,100 companies, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders through July 20. The conference features more than 300 global AI product launches, over 3,000 exhibitor technologies, and 140+ forums spanning research, industrial applications, and international governance.

Record Scale and Scope

WAIC 2026 spans three locations across Shanghai with 100,000+ square meters of exhibition space—the first time the conference has exceeded this threshold. More than 1,000 exhibitors are showcasing frontier technologies. The scale reflects the accelerating pace of AI development worldwide and Shanghai’s role as a technology hub.

The conference theme is “Intelligent Partners, Co-create the Future,” signaling a shift from AI as automation tool to AI as collaborative technology. The framing suggests industry consensus that future value comes from human-machine partnership rather than pure automation.

Two Core Technical Tracks

The conference organizes around intelligent computing and embodied intelligence, each drawing 200+ enterprises. Intelligent computing covers language models, reasoning systems, and inference optimization. Embodied intelligence focuses on robotics, autonomous systems, and physical-world AI applications.

The addition of WAIC Academic this year marks another milestone. Led by Turing Award winners and international academicians, this track creates a dedicated space for peer-reviewed research. This signals recognition that rapid commercialization can outpace fundamental scientific progress.

Governance and International Participation

Alongside technical forums, the conference hosts the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance. National governments, international organizations, and private-sector leaders are discussing regulation frameworks. The dual focus—simultaneous product launches and governance discussions—reflects tension between innovation speed and public safety.

The conference continues through July 20 with live updates on product launches and key announcements expected daily.