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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.
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China will host the 2024 edition of the World Internet Conference, or Wuzhen Summit, from November 12 to 22. Photo: Handout alt=China will host the 2024 edition of the World Internet Conference, or Wuzhen Summit, from November 12 to 22. Photo: Handout>
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.
“New productive forces” is China’s latest catchphrase to describe its development, referring to the combination of human labour, technology and infrastructure.
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
Ministry-level officials from different countries will also attend to discuss challenges and opportunities arising from the AI era.
WIC will also set up an AI committee at next month’s summit, serving as a platform for global AI firms to communicate, according to Ren. Amid moves by the US to increase its chokehold on China’s AI ambitions by widening export controls for advanced chips and restricting US investments into China’s AI start-ups, Ren said the world should be open and collaborative when it comes to AI.
