WAIC 2025: China’s largest global AI event begins this week

The World Artificial Intelligence Conference will be held from July 26 to 28 and will bring together experts, companies and technology institutions from around the world.

With an intense schedule, high technical level and strong international presence, the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC 2025) promises to turn Shanghai, China, into a hub for decisive global discussions about the present and future of artificial intelligence. The event will take place from July 26 to 28 and will gather hundreds of experts, leading companies and investors, consolidating its role as one of the main global forums for digital innovation and technology governance.

In its eighth edition, WAIC 2025 will bring together over 1,200 specialists from 30 countries, including Nobel Prize and Turing Award winners (the most prestigious prize in computer science), as well as representatives from leading laboratories and world-class technology companies. The conference reinforces its role as a reference platform for partnerships, investments and trends shaping the AI sector.

This year, the event reaches a new level and is expected to attract a large audience: for the first time, it will occupy a 70,000 m² exhibition area, bringing together 800 exhibiting companies. Besides Chinese leaders such as Alibaba, Tencent, Baidu, SenseTime and DeepRobotics, global giants like Tesla, Siemens and Schneider Electric will also attend.

Robots, LLMs and startups: highlights of 2025

WAIC 2025 will feature over 3,000 cutting-edge innovations including:

• 40 large language models (LLMs)
• 60 autonomous and humanoid robots
• 50 intelligent devices with integrated AI
• 100 world and China-first product launches

The event will also feature a new investment and incubator zone, gathering over 200 global startups and 100 funds and accelerators, building bridges between innovation and capital.

Here is a video from the previous edition — WAIC 2024:

More than 100 thematic forums on cutting-edge topics

WAIC 2025 will have as its central theme “Global solidarity in the AI era,” emphasizing international collaboration for sustainable and inclusive AI development. In this context, the event will cover a wide range of topics organized into four main areas:

Emerging technologies

• Intelligent computing: advances in hardware and software architectures to support large-scale AI applications
• Large Language Models (LLMs): development and application of advanced language models for diverse tasks
• Embedded intelligence: integrating AI into physical devices to create smart, responsive systems
• Quantum computing: exploring quantum computing potential to solve complex AI problems

New industrial sectors

• AI in industry: AI applications to optimize industrial processes and improve efficiency
• Fintech and AI: using AI to innovate and transform financial services
• AI for science: applying AI to accelerate scientific discoveries and technological advances

Humanities and society

• AI ethics and governance: discussing ethical challenges and governance needs in AI deployment
• AI for social good: using AI to promote human welfare and solve social problems
• Education and AI: exploring how AI can transform education and learning

Future trends

• Sustainable AI: developing environmentally sustainable AI solutions
• Global AI collaboration: promoting international partnerships for AI advancement
• Future of work with AI: AI’s impact on the labor market and required skills

These themes will be discussed in over 100 thematic forums during the event. To check all topics, visit the thematic forums page.

BRICS and AI: a shared agenda for digital governance

WAIC 2025 will also be the stage to announce cooperation guidelines on AI among BRICS countries, as announced by the Chinese government. This initiative complements what was defined by leaders during the 2025 BRICS Summit, where they signed the Declaration on Global AI Governance — a document highlighting:

• Importance of digital sovereignty and ethical use of data
• Support for open and responsible innovation — based on sharing knowledge, technologies and data across countries, companies and institutions — while respecting cultural diversity and combating algorithmic bias
• Construction of multilateral AI governance through the UN and regional agreements
• Promotion of equitable access to AI as a tool for sustainable development, education and inclusion

Thus, WAIC becomes not only a technology showcase, but also an international forum for digital diplomacy and public policy definition among BRICS+ countries.

Attend in person or watch online live

WAIC 2025 is a unique opportunity to get firsthand insights into the latest developments in artificial intelligence.

In addition to the in-person experience, the event will be streamed live online, offering access to technical panels, keynotes, product demonstrations and startup pitches from around the world. Register now on the official website and choose your preferred access format. Some sessions will be open to the public — check the official schedule to see what’s available for free.

By hosting one of the largest global AI events, China anticipates trends, fosters debate, connects talent and helps shape the future of this technological revolution. Be part of it and witness where the future is being written. Visit the official event website and subscribe to the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) YouTube channel.