The 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance concluded in Shanghai on July 20, yielding a series of outcomes spanning international cooperation, technological innovation, industrial development, and global governance.

Held from July 17 to 20, the conference brought together official representatives from 102 countries and international organizations, as well as guests from industry, academia, and research institutions. It attracted 1,568 experts from China and abroad, including 432 foreign guest speakers and 11 recipients of the Turing Award, Nobel Prize, or Fields Medal.

Global AI cooperation advances

A major outcome of the conference was the signing of the Agreement on the Establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization. Representatives from 29 countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe signed the agreement, making their countries the organization's founding members. The organization will be headquartered in Shanghai.

The conference also served as a broad platform for international dialogue and cooperation. Representatives from about 80 countries and international organizations attended the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance. At the same time, the four-day event featured nearly 160 forums, along with dozens of bilateral and multilateral exchanges and business talks.

Investment and business opportunities expand

Agreements covering 32 key AI projects in Shanghai were signed at the closing ceremony, with a total investment of more than 40.9 billion yuan ($6.05 billion). The projects span AI infrastructure, AI agents, embodied intelligence, and AI for science.

A series of industry projects and platforms were also launched. A strategic partnership will provide specialized financial services and develop new financial products for the AI sector.

Shanghai Unicom launched the UniAI program and plans to invest more than 25 billion yuan to strengthen intelligent computing infrastructure and expand AI applications in industrial upgrading, public services, urban governance, and the digital ecosystem.

The Shanghai Institute for Physical Artificial Intelligence and Robotics was inaugurated to advance research and the commercialization of technologies in those fields.

The conference drew more than 1,100 companies from China and abroad. It also showcased more than 180 startup projects through roadshows and exhibitions, creating opportunities for entrepreneurs to connect with investors and potential business partners.

The conference was estimated to have generated approximately 20.36 billion yuan in intended purchases, up 25 percent year-on-year.

Sources: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shanghai Municipal People's Government