More than 1,100 companies are presenting their latest artificial intelligence technologies at the 2026 World AI Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, where innovation, international cooperation and AI governance are taking centre stage.
The exhibition spans more than 100,000 square metres for the first time, with organisers saying over 3,000 products and technologies are on display, including more than 300 global debuts.
The conference brings together technology firms, policymakers, researchers and business leaders to discuss the future of artificial intelligence and the rules governing its development and use.
Chinese authorities introduced an action plan covering eight key areas, including data, computing power, industrial development, talent, standards, governance and AI ethics.
The conference also launched three major AI projects, including the Global Wisdom Platform, designed to promote international cooperation and showcase China's AI capabilities.
An AI applications initiative was also presented, focused on real-world use cases such as emergency information sharing and risk assessment.
Among the technologies attracting attention was the Qiji T1000, described as the world's first tonne-capacity heavy-duty robotic horse. Designed to carry payloads of up to 1,000 kilogrammes, the robot is built to operate across challenging terrain, including snow, ice and steep slopes.
Alongside technological advances, delegates stressed the need for international cooperation and ethical standards as AI becomes increasingly embedded in society.
Experts highlighted the importance of safeguarding privacy, protecting human rights and ensuring transparency in AI systems.
Chinese President Xi Jinping used his opening address to call for greater global cooperation on AI governance, urging countries to promote innovation while ensuring artificial intelligence remains secure, inclusive and beneficial to humanity.
China says its core AI industry exceeded 1.2 trillion yuan ($177 billion) in value last year and now includes more than 6,200 AI companies, with its open-source large language models downloaded more than 10 billion times worldwide.
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Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy said a Togo-flagged oil tanker was struck while attempting to make an “illegal passage” through the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media said early on Friday.
Russian air strikes injured 13 and damaged buildings in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and in the Black Sea port city of Odesa in the early hours of Thursday, officials said on the Telegram messaging app.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he hoped the war against Iran was nearing its end and that Tehran wanted to reach a deal, but Iran dismissed his comments as “mixed signals” as the conflict approaches its seventh month.
The European Union will disburse €3.3 billion ($3.8 billion) to Ukraine for missiles and drones, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The U.S. State Department approved a $2.7 billion military sale to Ukraine for air-defence development upgrades, along with related equipment and services, the department said. Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities reported at least 10 people had died in Russian attacks over the last 24 hours.
Google’s Gemini AI model accessed the internet and hacked three companies during a cybersecurity test, in what is believed to be the first known case of the company’s AI systems autonomously carrying out such activity.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 18 September 2026. These are the top five stories making headlines in the field of science.
French prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation into suspected sexual harassment involving smart glasses, amid mounting global concern over the privacy risks posed by the devices.
Some of the world’s most powerful technology executives are lobbying U.S. President Donald Trump over artificial intelligence regulation, exposing growing divisions within the industry over how governments should respond to rapidly advancing AI.
Governments need to move faster to manage the security risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI), defence officials and experts warned at a major security conference in Beijing.
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