World Artificial Intelligence Conference to open in Shanghai

The World Artificial Intelligence Conference is the first high-end conference focusing on AI in China. [Photo/pdtimes.com.cn]

The 2019 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) will take place in Shanghai from Aug 29 to 31, according to the conference's organizing committee.

The Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center in Pudong New Area will serve as the main venue for the conference, which will include high-end forums, series activities, innovative application exhibitions and intelligent application practices. An AI application demonstration area will be built around the venue.

Shanghai recently rolled out a series of policies in a bid to build itself into a center for high-quality AI development.

Many international enterprises such as Microsoft, Amazon and SAP have already set up AI research institutes in Shanghai.

The AI & IoT lab built by Microsoft on Zhangjiang AIsland in Pudong was officially put into operation in May, and the first batch of 30 domestic and foreign enterprises and start-ups have settled on the island.

It is also worth mentioning that Shanghai recently started construction on China's first AI innovative application forerunner area and the national new-generation AI innovation and development pilot zone

The Shanghai pilot zone will gather high-end innovative resources, strengthen innovative capacity, improve the innovation and entrepreneurship environment, and drive AI innovation and development in the country.

The WAIC is the first high-end conference focusing on AI in China. The first conference was held in Shanghai in September 2018, and drew more than 70 leading figures from the global AI industry and 50 Chinese and foreign academicians. A total of 200,000 people from more than 40 countries and regions attended the event.

This year's WAIC is jointly hosted by the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Engineering, and the People's Government of Shanghai.