Humanoids to Huawei: What to Watch as Xi Attends China’s Top AI Event
The World AI Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai opens this week against the backdrop of an escalating technology rivalry with the United States. Restrictions imposed by Washington continue to limit China’s access to advanced computing chips, prompting Beijing to accelerate its pursuit of technological self-reliance. The gathering will highlight the country’s push to compete across the entire AI stack—from foundational models and chips to humanoid robots and consumer devices.
President Xi Jinping’s attendance underscores the high priority Beijing places on AI as a strategic sector. The conference is expected to serve as a barometer of how far China has progressed in turning model breakthroughs into a robust industrial ecosystem, and how it intends to shape global rules through academic engagement, safety standards, and international collaboration.
China’s Self-Reliance Push
In response to US chip export controls, China has made domestic innovation a national priority. The WAIC will showcase homegrown alternatives in hardware and software, including Huawei’s latest AI chips and platforms. Exhibits are likely to feature advances in humanoid robotics, autonomous driving, and industrial AI, reflecting the government’s goal of reducing dependence on foreign technology.
Officials have framed the event as a demonstration of China’s ability to build a complete AI value chain, from research and development to mass deployment. The conference comes amid a broader push to integrate AI into manufacturing, healthcare, and smart city projects.
Open-Source Debate and Global Outreach
Beijing has also pushed back against Western criticism that its promotion of open-source AI models overseas constitutes a “trap.” On Thursday, foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian responded to such claims, stating that China opposes drawing ideological lines and imposing technological blockades. He said the country would use WAIC to foster exchanges and build consensus, while ensuring that the benefits of AI development reach more developing nations.
The stance reflects China’s desire to position itself as a global leader in AI governance, offering an alternative to US-led frameworks. The conference is expected to feature discussions on ethics, safety standards, and multilateral cooperation, as Beijing seeks to shape the narrative around responsible AI development.
AI Moves Beyond Chats
This year’s WAIC will highlight a shift in AI from screens to the physical world. Foundation models are becoming multimodal and task-oriented, enabling robots and autonomous systems to interact with their environment. Attendees can expect to see humanoid robots capable of complex actions, smart devices that integrate AI assistants, and industrial applications that blend perception with decision-making.
The transition from virtual to physical AI represents a major frontier for Chinese tech companies. By showcasing everything from Huawei’s edge computing platforms to agile humanoids, the conference aims to demonstrate that China’s AI ecosystem is not just about models—it is about building a new generation of machines that can see, move, and act independently.
The source for this article is https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3360800/humanoids-huawei-what-watch-xi-attends-chinas-waic-amid-us-ai-rivalry.