World Artificial Intelligence Conference

The World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) is an annual AI summit held in Shanghai, co-hosted by multiple Chinese government bodies including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Shanghai municipal government . In recent editions it has grown into one of the largest AI exhibitions globally: WAIC 2024 featured over 500 exhibitors, 1,500 products, and 300,000+ offline visitors , while the 2025 edition reportedly drew 3,000+ exhibits and sold out tickets three days before opening . The conference has become a key platform for Chinese AI startups and venture capital firms to showcase new products and trends — Yunqi Capital, for instance, has brought portfolio companies like MiniMax, Qunhe Technology, and Yuanrong Qixing to the event for four consecutive years through 2025 . Beyond exhibitions, WAIC also hosts academic and industry forums; at the 2024 opening, for example, Tang Xiaoou gave what appears to be his last public speech, sharing stories of his students' work in deep learning .