BEIJING: The Light of the Internet Expo, one of the main events at the 2024 World Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit, kicked off on Tuesday in the water town of Wuzhen, east China’s Zhejiang Province.
For the first time, the event features an artificial intelligence (AI) experience area, allowing visitors to enjoy cutting-edge AI applications in an immersive setting. From humming a simple tune to having AI compose a melody on the spot, or witnessing an AI-assisted creation of exquisite landscape paintings, the year’s expo is delivering hands-on demonstrations of the daily use of AI. This focus on interactivity also reflects the pivotal role of AI on this year’s summit agenda.
The 2024 expo has drawn over 660 global companies, showcasing cutting-edge AI technologies and the latest application advancements. According to Xu Zhaoxi, head of the expo’s working group, this year’s event has set a record for both the number of overseas exhibitors and the total number of participants. Over 100 new product launches and 10 major technological debuts are scheduled during the expo.
The Wuzhen Summit itself, running from November 19 to 22, carries the theme of “Embracing a People-centered and AI-for-good Digital Future – Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace.”
Hosted by the WIC and supported by international organizations such as the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the summit includes a main forum and 24 sub-forums, covering topics including the Global Development Initiative, the digital economy, open-source ecosystem development, data governance, AI innovation and governance, and youth and the digital future.
This year’s summit incorporates AI into both its exhibitions and discussions. A specialized AI section has been added to the sub-forums, focusing on innovation, governance and the responsible application of AI technologies.
Other smart technologies are making their debut at this year’s summit, such as smart robot dogs, unmanned patrol cars capable of navigating diverse terrains with a 280-kilogram load capacity, and 5G-equipped unmanned boats designed to traverse Wuzhen’s intricate river network. Together, these technological products form an autonomous patrol team, enhancing security in collaboration with local police forces. –The Daily Mail-CGTN news exchange item
