BEIJING, July 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — In Shanghai, the final countdown to one of the world’s largest artificial intelligence (AI) events has entered its last stage. Inside the exhibition halls, interactive screens are being tested, robotic arms are undergoing repeated adjustments, and engineers are making final preparations before thousands of AI products meet global visitors, the Global Times observed while walking through the exhibition halls on Thursday. 

The 2026 World AI Conference (WAIC) & High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance will offer visitors a vivid glimpse into how AI is evolving – from being perceived as cold industrial machinery to becoming intelligent companions that are increasingly integrated into work, daily life and entertainment.

Under the theme of “Intelligent Partners, Co-create the Future,” the most prominent feature of this year’s conference is its strong focus on practical applications, the exhibition’s organizer told the Global Times on Thursday.

Twenty-nine countries on Thursday signed an agreement in Shanghai on establishing the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), the Xinhua News Agency reported. 

The WAICO will be an independent intergovernmental international organization headquartered in Shanghai, according to the agreement.

The organization will uphold the purposes of the UN Charter, be committed to extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit and adhere to a people-centered approach, according to the agreement. It aims to promote international cooperation and global governance on AI, ensuring that AI is beneficial, safe and fair, thereby promoting its healthy and orderly development to benefit all humanity, Xinhua said.

Set to open on Friday in Shanghai, WAIC 2026 is bringing together more than 1,100 companies and over 3,000 exhibits, with more than 300 AI products making their global debuts, the latest official data showed.

Visitors will not only get a close look at the latest AI breakthroughs, but also see how these technologies are being applied in real-world scenarios spanning manufacturing, healthcare, education and elderly care, the organizer said.

Hundreds of application-driven exhibits will highlight a broader transformation: AI is becoming a new type of productive force, injecting fresh momentum into industries across the board.

Global debuts closer to daily life

Ahead of the conference, some Chinese advanced intelligent manufacturing companies exclusively shared with the Global Times details of cutting-edge AI products that are set to make their public debuts at the event.

The rapid improvement in humanoid robots’ dexterity will be showcased through several products.

At the conference, AGILINK will debut and showcase its OmniHand 3 Ultra-M dexterous hand, and the visitors will see a bimanual balloon-dog folding demonstration, which represents the world’s only publicly showcased demonstration of such a function, the company told the Global Times on Thursday in a statement. 

The OmniHand 3 Ultra-M is designed to match the size of a human hand, featuring 20 degrees of freedom, visual-tactile sensors integrated into the fingertips of all five fingers, and distributed three-dimensional tactile sensing points across the palm. These features enable the dexterous hand to perform highly precise manipulation tasks. 

Also, Agibot, together with JD Logistics, has jointly developed a new-generation safety-certified heavy-duty embodied intelligent robot, Genie G2 Max, Agibot said in a statement to the Global Times on Thursday. 

The robot features an 18-kilogram payload capacity for a single arm and a standard 38-kilogram payload capacity for dual arms, with a peak payload of 50 kilograms, making it one of the industry’s strongest in terms of load capacity, the company said. It can also perform sub-millimeter-level precision operations and supports autonomous charging and battery swapping, enabling uninterrupted 24/7 operations.

Meanwhile, SenseMart Go, an AI retail solution developed by SenseTime, will showcase its new embodied intelligent robotic store, where humanoid robots flexibly and efficiently handle retail operations, SenseTime said in a statement to the Global Times.

Visitors can scan a QR code to experience the complete shopping process, with in-store robots capable of independently picking and placing products, organizing shelves, conducting inventory checks, and handling basic exceptions, according to the statement.

Beyond embodied intelligence, WAIC 2026 will also showcase breakthroughs in AI models and computing infrastructure that support broader applications.

During the exhibition, MiniMax will showcase its next-generation native multimodal flagship model, M3. Supporting up to 1 million tokens of context, the model is built on MiniMax’s proprietary MSA (MiniMax Sparse Attention) architecture, delivering enhanced performance in long-context processing, Coding, and Agentic tasks. 

A Chinese brain-computer interface company BrainCo will officially launch what the company describes as the world’s first integrated, graphical, one-stop AI research platform for brain-controlled robotics research and development – the BrainCo Brain-Controlled Robot Training Platform – during the exhibition, the company said in a statement to the Global Times on Thursday.

With the platform, developers without prior BCI expertise can enable “mind-controlled” robot operations within just 10 minutes.

In addition, the Securities Times reported that Huawei’s Atlas 950, the industry’s largest commercial supernode, will make its debut at the conference. The system features a minimum configuration of 64 cards per cabinet and can scale up to 8,192 NPUs, specifically designed for training and inference of trillion-parameter AI models.

From breakthroughs to applications

The breakthroughs showcased at WAIC 2026 are not limited to technological advances, with some cutting-edge innovations already being integrated into industrial chains and transforming daily manufacturing.

Notably, the Global Times has learned that the exhibition has built a humanoid robot manufacturing workshop, featuring a fully automated new energy vehicle production line operating in real time. 

Covering five major processes – from battery module assembly to interior speaker installation – the production line replicates a real new energy vehicle manufacturing process. Each operational scenario corresponds to real-world industrial applications, offering visitors a firsthand look at how AI is reshaping industrial manufacturing, the organizers told the Global Times on Thursday.

For example, visitors will see intelligent robots perform tasks such as picking, screw fastening, power connection, and fully automated assembly and lighting tests for vehicle lamps, demonstrating highly precise and efficient operations, according to the organizers.

The booming AI ecosystem showcased at WAIC 2026 reflects China’s sustained efforts to strengthen technological innovation and develop new quality productive forces, Chinese experts said.

As China’s 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30) begins, AI has been identified as one of the key emerging technologies driving industrial upgrading and future economic growth. This year’s top policies have emphasized accelerating the integration of AI with manufacturing, services and scientific research.

Such applications reflect a broader push to accelerate the commercialization of AI through policy support, industrial capacity and market demand.

As AI rapidly moves from laboratories to solve problems in factories, hospitals and supply chains, Chinese policymakers have set their sights high, anticipating the rise of a “smart economy.” 

China’s 2026 Government Work Report also supports the creation of new forms of the smart economy: “We will advance and expand the AI Plus Initiative. We will promote faster application of new-generation intelligent terminals and AI agents and encourage large-scale commercial application of AI in key sectors and fields, so as to foster new forms and models of AI-native business. We will support the development of open-source AI communities and build a vibrant open-source ecosystem.” 

The global AI industry is moving beyond a phase of rapid technological breakthroughs and entering a new stage where deep applications and global governance advance in parallel, Chen Jing, vice president of the Technology and Strategy Research Institute, told the Global Times on Thursday.

In the past, AI was often measured by its technological capabilities. Today, both industries and society are placing greater emphasis on its ability to deliver practical services. This is a shift from a technology-driven approach toward a more human-centered one, Chen said.

“China’s experience shows that AI can achieve greater value by integrating with the real economy, leveraging extensive manufacturing capabilities and diverse application scenarios to create a positive cycle between technology development and practical needs. With policy support and market-driven innovation working together, AI is moving from laboratories into factories, homes and cities. The future of AI will be defined not by computing power or model parameters alone, but by its ability to solve real-world problems,” he added.

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SOURCE Global Times

SHENZHEN, China, July 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — October marks one of China’s most important sourcing seasons, as global buyers travel to South China for the Canton Fair. This year, why not begin the journey just a short distance away in Shenzhen? From October 13-15, 2026, the fourth Connexion ShenZhen, organized by Shanghai Sinoexpo Informa Markets International Exhibition Co., Ltd, will take place at Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center in the same October sourcing window as Canton Fair Phase 1, inviting international visitors to stop in Shenzhen before continuing to Guangzhou and add more suppliers, categories and business opportunities to their South China itinerary. As a one-stop mega sourcing event serving the Greater Bay Area, the show will span 200,000 square meters across nine halls, bringing together 2,000+ exhibitors, 150,000+ professional visitors, two themed exhibitions and ten key sectors covering food and beverage, hospitality, furniture, health, lifestyle, machinery and electronics. Major fourth-edition upgrades include the launch of a dedicated Machinery & Electronic Equipment Themed Exhibition, more than 100 forums, product launches and business-matching activities, an English-language visitor app, and a limited Overseas Buyer Dual-City Package offering accommodation, transport and onsite support. Stop by Shenzhen, then continue to the Canton Fair – and make your South China sourcing journey broader, easier and more productive.

The platform is designed to help buyers compare products, production capabilities, commercial equipment and end-use solutions in one efficient visit – from ingredients and manufacturing through to retail, hospitality and smart commercial applications.

Two Themed Exhibitions, Ten Key Sectors, Endless Opportunities

The Catering, Hotel, Furniture, Health and Lifestyle Themed Exhibition will cover catering food, coffee and tea; hospitality products and design; commercial space and cross-border e-commerce; natural products and health ingredients; and urban lifestyle, gifts and market concepts. These categories will serve buyers across hospitality, foodservice, wellness, retail, interior projects and lifestyle distribution.

The newly added Machinery & Electronic Equipment Themed Exhibition will extend the sourcing journey into food processing and packaging; catering equipment; electronics and electrical appliances; cleaning and property management; and lighting, intelligent systems and smart hotel solutions. It will give international buyers more ways to source across production, commercial operations and customer-facing applications – particularly in fast-growing markets across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe, the Americas and Belt and Road economies.

Stop by Connexion Shenzhen and continue to Canton Fair

The new October schedule creates a practical dual-city itinerary for global buyers. Visitors can begin in Shenzhen on October 13-15 to meet suppliers and explore South China’s manufacturing and commercial innovation ecosystem, then continue to Guangzhou for Canton Fair Phase 1. By linking two major sourcing stops in one trip, the route is designed to broaden supplier discovery while helping buyers make better use of their time and travel budget in the Greater Bay Area.

Qualified overseas professional buyers may also apply for the limited Overseas Buyer Dual-City Package. Subject to application review and final confirmation, approved buyers can receive a one-night hotel stay with breakfast, hotel-to-venue transport, an onward shuttle from Shenzhen to Guangzhou or the Canton Fair area, VIP Lounge access, a business lunch and business matchmaking support. Applications close on September 24, 2026, and availability is limited.

An official app built for overseas visitors

The official English-language Connexion ShenZhen app is now available as a practical visitor tool. Overseas buyers can use it to browse show information, exhibitors, products and categories; check hall maps and concurrent events; access tickets, transport and visitor services; and plan their onsite route before arrival. Visitors can search “Connexion ShenZhen” on the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Beyond the exhibition floor, more than 100 forums, competitions, special showcases, product launches, markets and business-matching activities are planned. The program will help buyers identify emerging trends, meet selected suppliers and explore new products and commercial applications across hospitality, lifestyle, machinery and electronics.

Connexion ShenZhen’s international reach continues to grow. The 2025 edition welcomed overseas visitors from 117 countries and regions, demonstrating the platform’s potential for cross-border trade and supplier-buyer connections. With the earlier show dates, the Canton Fair alignment, the new machinery and electronics offering and upgraded English-language services, the 2026 edition is positioned to deliver an even more productive sourcing experience for global professionals.

Plan your visit

Official website: www.connexion.cn/en/
Visitor registration: Register for a free visitor ticket
Overseas Buyer Dual-City Package: View the overseas landing page

About Connexion ShenZhen

Connexion ShenZhen is a flagship one-stop sourcing platform in South China organized by Shanghai Sinoexpo Informa Markets International Exhibition Co., Ltd. The event connects catering, hotel, furniture, health, lifestyle, machinery and electronic equipment industries, bringing together suppliers, buyers, brands and professional communities from China and overseas. The fourth edition will take place from October 13 to 15, 2026, at Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center.

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SOURCE Informa Markets Sinoexpo

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Apaluma, which transforms fragmented regulatory records into a unified ecosystem, today announced the closing of its $5.55 million seed funding round led by Crosslink Capital and Kickstart, co-led by Haven Ventures and Overwater Ventures, with Orange DAO and NM Vintage Fund as additional pre-seed and seed investors.

Government agencies hold the data that shapes daily life: Permits, regulations, and environmental records are all public records. Most of it sits in PDFs, scanned ledgers, and incompatible databases. It exists, but no one can use it. Apaluma transforms fragmented regulatory records into one connected ecosystem.

The records become searchable, secure, mapped to real-world locations, and governed by each agency’s own rules. The platform is purpose-built for the full regulatory life cycle and serves analysts, scientists, and regulators who need answers in hours, not weeks.

“With Apaluma, every record — from filing to enforcement — lives in one connected system,” said Apaluma founder and CEO Alicia J. Keyes. “That unification expedites permitting, speeds up FOIA requests, streamlines agency operations, and makes the regulatory life cycle of a location coherent and actionable.”

“We invest in founders who understand a problem from the inside,” said Gabby Contro of Crosslink Capital. “Alicia ran economic development for the state of New Mexico. She has sat at the nexus of sustainability and development. That firsthand insight is what convinced us that Apaluma can solve this long-fragmented problem for regulators and businesses.”

For more information, visit www.apaluma.com.

FAQ

What environmental data does Apaluma work with?

Government agencies hold the world’s most critical data sets around air, water, energy, and waste — data that shapes daily life via permits, regulations, environmental records, and public filings.

How does Apaluma unify government environmental data?

Apaluma links every facility, permit, violation, and record by meaning through data ontology, not just by keyword, so queries surface the full regulatory picture of a location.

How does Apaluma handle environmental data digitization?

Apaluma ingests decades of scanned PDFs, classifying and normalizing records into structured intelligence. The platform also connects legacy systems without rip-and-replace, so agency data stays where it lives.

Can Apaluma support a public environmental data project?

In New Mexico, the Apaluma platform ingested every public document the New Mexico Environment Department has ever filed, normalized it, and made the entire archive searchable from a single interface, with cited sources on every answer.

Does Apaluma work with air pollution data, pollution data, and air quality data for government agencies?

The platform connects monitoring feeds and sensor data to decades of permitting context on a single dashboard, unifying siloed state, federal, city, and county records into maps, charts, and dashboards in one place.

Does Apaluma offer water-quality data solutions?

Apaluma is used daily by permit reviewers, compliance officers, and water-quality analysts — all without hallucinated facts or untraceable claims.

For more information:
matthewmurray@cozen.com

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SOURCE Apaluma