The 2024 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and the High-Level Meeting on Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence (hereinafter referred to as "WAIC 2024") is set to open on July 4th. Centered around three major sections: core technology, intelligent terminals, and application empowerment, the conference will bring numerous debuts and highlights for the audience to explore.

According to the organizers, this year's conference exhibition continues to expand and upgrade, with an exhibition area exceeding 52,000 square meters. The forum will take place from July 4th to 6th, and the exhibition will last from July 4th to 7th. The conference revolves around the theme of "Governing AI for Good and for All," focusing on key areas such as large models, computing power, robotics, and autonomous driving, showcasing a series of the latest innovations in "AI+" applications and launching a batch of innovative products. To date, more than 500 companies have confirmed their participation, with over 50% being companies from outside the city and international enterprises. The number of exhibits has exceeded 1,500, setting a historical record for the number of participating companies, highlighted exhibits, and new product launches.

At this conference, the forum will be presented with a "1+3+X" structure, including an opening ceremony and a plenary session, three main forums on global governance, industry development, and scientific frontiers, as well as several industry forums. These forums cover ten key topics such as AI ethics and governance, large models, data, computing power, embodied intelligence, AI for Science, new industrialization, autonomous driving, investment and financing, education, and talent, fully reflecting the value orientation of AI for good, international cooperation, and shared governance. It is reported that the conference forum will gather the world's top wisdom, with nine Turing Award, Fields Medal, and Nobel Prize winners, and 88 academicians from home and abroad attending, and more than 200 distinguished guests will deliver speeches.

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As an important platform for showcasing cutting-edge technologies in China and globally, Shanghai has successfully held six consecutive World Artificial Intelligence Conferences. On June 20th, the Shanghai Municipal Government held a press conference, and Zhang Ying, the director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, stated that artificial intelligence is one of the three leading industries that Shanghai is focusing on developing. This year's conference will focus on ten key issues such as AI ethics and governance, large models, data, computing power, and embodied intelligence. The exhibition area, the number of participating companies, and the number of first launches and shows will all reach a historical high, further unleashing the "magnetic effect" of the conference on the artificial intelligence industry.

Highlight One: Model Algorithms Promote Application Implementation

At last year's World Artificial Intelligence Conference, more than 1,400 guests attended, and a total of 133 forums were held. The conference connected with 210 upstream and downstream enterprises, reaching an intended purchase amount of 11 billion, promoting the signing of 32 major industrial projects with a total investment of 28.8 billion yuan. Large models became the focus of attention at the conference, with more than 30 large models from home and abroad making a collective appearance.

This year's conference exhibition site will continue to showcase the emergence of large models. Not only will there be participation from leading industries such as Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent, Huawei, SenseTime, iFLYTEK, China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom, and StarRing Technology, but newcomers such as Minimax, Baichuan Intelligence, ZhiPu AI, and StepUp Stars will also be present. In addition, companies such as Microsoft, Dell Technologies, Lenovo, ZTE Communications, Kingsoft Office, and Yuanli Technology will focus on end-side applications, demonstrating the prospects for model implementation.

In the first launch and show related to large models, there will be new generation models such as SenseTime's "SenseTime Daily New 5.5," iFLYTEK's "iFLYTEK Spark Large Model V4.0," StarRing Technology's "StarRing Infinite Large Model based on AIPC," and Baichuan Intelligence's "Latest Generation Base Model Baichuan 4," as well as model applications such as Ant Group's "Alipay Intelligent Assistant based on Ant Bailing Large Model," and platforms and systems such as Huawei's "Ascend AI Full Process Enablement Platform" and the Fourth Paradigm's "Sage AIOS5.0 Industry Large Model Platform."

Highlight Two: Intelligent Robots Drive the Future

In 2023, the national robot market scale reached 83.9 billion yuan, with vigorous market development. At last year's Artificial Intelligence Conference, more than 20 robots were showcased on site.This year's conference exhibition will focus on creating a humanoid robot area, showcasing 25 humanoid robots, and releasing the world's first full-size open-source public edition humanoid robot Qinglong, as well as the first full-size humanoid robot open-source community in China. Tesla will debut the second generation of Optimus, and Yu Shi Technology will display the first full-size general-purpose humanoid robot H1 in China that has achieved running functions. Companies such as Fourier, Data, and Cloud Deep Technology will also bring more than 20 intelligent robots.

Highlight 3: AI terminals stand out

The conference exhibition will also gather a series of new terminal species, covering various industries such as livelihood, education, and media entertainment. Dell Technology and Lenovo will bring multiple AI terminal products represented by AI PCs, ZTE will showcase the "AI for AII" product strategy with a comprehensive layout, and XREAL will display head-mounted terminal products.

In addition, "AI+" has transcended the theoretical stage and entered production and life. At the exhibition site, you will also see products co-developed by Google and Lanzhou University, using the open-source technology Tensorflow to transfer Dunhuang-style patterns to modern clothing; Time and Space Journey will bring the Time and Space Journey Artificial Intelligence Technology Research and Learning Experience Hall (Eye of Time and Space), demonstrating how to create an integrated AI+ education, cultural tourism, social, and entertainment comprehensive business entity online and offline.

Highlight 4: Central enterprises "AI+" stimulate industry growth

In the field of artificial intelligence, central enterprises are forming new momentum and synergy, building an innovative "growth pole." At this year's exhibition site, central enterprises such as China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom, CITIC Group, ZTE Group, Bank of Communications, and China Pacific Insurance will showcase "AI+" industry applications.

For example, China Mobile will bring the "Nine Heavens Base Model" and "5G-A×AI New Call"; China Unicom will display the "Meta Scene 1+1+M Large Model," which is a large model system consisting of one basic large model, one large model base, and M industry large models; China Telecom's full-stack self-developed exhibition area will showcase innovative achievements developed based on core technologies such as cloud-network computing power and self-developed algorithms. CITIC Group will showcase the world's first "Lighthouse Factory" technology in the special steel industry for the first time.

The conference will also hold the China Artificial Intelligence Industry Innovation Achievement Exhibition with the theme of "Artificial Intelligence Empowering New Industrialization," vividly showcasing China's progress and achievements in technology, industry, and governance to the world. More than 60 companies at key links in the artificial intelligence industry chain have been invited to participate.

Highlight 5: Innovative industry ecosystem gathers strength and adds energy

In addition, this year's AI conference has created the "Full Domain Linkage Pavilion" for the first time, summarizing and presenting highlights such as emerging talents in scientific research, innovation and entrepreneurship projects, and investment and financing industry empowerment within the pavilion. It gathers more than 100 innovative projects, more than 100 investment institutions, more than 100 procurement groups, and more than 100 demand scenarios, creating a one-stop full-cycle service platform for the comprehensive development of young talents and innovative enterprises.The exhibition hall specially features a "Future Tech 100 Future Stars Innovation Incubation Zone," which will select 100 startup project teams from around the world. Additionally, there is a comprehensive area for "AI+" application scenarios, focusing on creating three major functional areas: the exhibition center, the release center, and the matchmaking center. It will hold 20 procurement matchmaking sessions and closed-door meetings for procurement groups, with more than 100 scenario parties from nearly 20 countries including China, Switzerland, the United States, Singapore, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Mexico participating. Nearly 200 actual procurement needs will be released on site, with procurement amounts exceeding 10 billion yuan.