Visitors take photos at China Unicom's exhibition area during the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai in July. CHINA DAILY
The midsummer heat is stifling, yet inside the exhibition halls of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference — which recently concluded in Shanghai — the temperature also feels high due to a flurry of activity.
The whir of featured technology in operation, the narration of product launches and the cacophony of conversations in multiple tongues weave together into a constant hum that reverberates through the vast space. Industry professionals, academic researchers and ordinary citizens weave from booth to booth, checking out futuristic tech and experiencing AI agents firsthand. The packed halls, buzzing with energy, paint a vivid portrait of a burgeoning AI sector charging forward at full throttle.
This year's WAIC has broken its own records: the total exhibition area exceeded 100,000 square meters for the first time, with more than 1,100 companies showcasing over 3,000 exhibits and over 300 products making their global debut. More than 1,400 Chinese and foreign special guests gathered together, with the on-site excitement unmistakable.
