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China’s World Internet Conference (WIC), an annual event that promotes the Chinese model and concept of internet governance, will focus on artificial intelligence (AI) this year, as Beijing seeks a greater role in the global governance of AI.
The event, also known as the Wuzhen Summit, will run from November 19-22 under the theme of “intelligence for good”. Conference topics will focus on AI and its impact on humanity, the economy and society, the forum’s secretary general Ren Xianliang said at a news conference in Beijing on Thursday.
“Global AI technology development … is shaping up to become a force driving a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation,” Ren said, adding that the rapid advancement in AI brings both opportunities and risks.
Specific sessions will discuss AI innovation and governance, AI-based “new quality productive forces”, and responsible AI development and applications, to facilitate discourse around leveraging the technology for economic and societal growth.
The annual event, held since 2014 in the city of Wuzhen, a tourist resort in the eastern province of Zhejiang, was losing its significance for Western tech companies as China’s internet sphere became increasingly closed. However, in 2022 China repositioned the forum as an international event to promote Beijing’s agenda and initiatives.
The forum will be attended by delegates from domestic Chinese tech firms, such as Alibaba Group Holding and its fintech affiliate Ant Group, but China-based executives for US businesses such as Cisco and IBM are also expected to attend, Ren said. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post