The 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference & High-level Meeting on Global AI Governance will take place from July 26 to 28 across multiple venues in Shanghai: the Expo Center, the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center, and the West Bund area in Xuhui district.

Now in its seventh year, the event continues to be a major global platform for AI innovation, collaboration, and exchange.

This year's WAIC will feature over 800 companies, with more than half coming from outside Shanghai or abroad. Visitors can explore over 3,000 cutting-edge AI products, with over 40 large AI models, 50 smart terminal devices, 60 intelligent robots, and more than 100 new technologies making their debut in China or globally.

Four themed exhibition zones

The conference will feature four main exhibition halls, each spotlighting a different aspect of the AI ecosystem:

Core technologies (H1): Showcasing the most advanced AI breakthroughs from global leaders like Google, Amazon Web Services, and Cisco, alongside major Chinese innovators including Alibaba, Huawei, Ant Group, SenseTime, and iFlytek.

Industrial applications (H2): Highlighting real-world AI integration by companies such as China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom, as well as international giants like Siemens and Tesla, and leading automakers including Li Auto and Geely.

Smart terminals (H3): A glimpse into the future of robotics and embodied AI. Visitors can interact with robots from Unitree Robotics, Fourier Intelligence, and Mech-Mind. Smart glasses from Xreal and Lingban Technology, as well as immersive gaming setups, will also be on display.

Universal links (H4): A hub for startups, investors, and collaboration. This zone features matchmaking events, private meetings, over 30 scenario-based product launches, more than 200 procurement lists, and an innovation stage for live demos and open-source exchanges.

World-class forums and speakers

WAIC 2025 will host over 100 professional forums, attracting more than 1,200 global experts, including 12 Nobel and Turing Award laureates. Among the headliners is Geoffrey Hinton, widely regarded as the "Godfather of AI".

For the first time, the conference will also feature the Young Elite Scholar, bringing CEOs, young innovators, and thought leaders from around the world to explore topics such as the evolution of large AI models, embodied intelligence, and quantum computing.

Upgraded awards and youth recognition

This year's prestigious SAIL Award attracted strong international participation, with 17 percent of the 240 entries submitted by teams from abroad.

The Youth Outstanding Paper Award received 199 submissions, with most authors under 30 years old. Of these, 79.4 percent held PhDs, and several papers have already been published in leading journals and conferences such as Nature, Science, CVPR, and NeurIPS.

AI meets the city

For the first time, WAIC will launch the WAIC City Walk initiative, featuring themed routes across all 16 districts of Shanghai and 128 interactive checkpoints.

To join, register by scanning the QR code and adding the "Assistant on WeCom". Spots are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Visitors can also explore the "WAIC Li" themed block, where robots write calligraphy, play traditional drums, serve drinks, and cook dishes — merging culture with cutting-edge technology.

At the "Application Market", guests can experience the power of AI up close: voice-controlled robots prepare meals, emotion-sensing art installations respond to your mood, and smart glasses swap virtual screens with a voice command, offering a window into the future of intelligent living.

Source: eastday.com