Technology

Where AI meets Shanghai: The ecosystem advantage

Published

8 hours ago

July 31, 2026

SHANGHAI, July 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from english.shanghai.gov.cn

As Bill Reichert walked through the exhibition halls of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), AR glasses demonstrating real-time Chinese-English subtitles immediately caught his attention.

“It’s as if I were anywhere else in the world that actually speaks English,” said Reichert, a partner at US-based Pegasus Tech Ventures, describing the experience as a “wow moment”.

Reichert was among the featured speakers at the “WAIC UP! 2026 Youth Dialogue”, a side event of the 2026 WAIC and the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance, held in Shanghai from July 17 to 20.

Organized by China Daily’s Business Development Department and co-organized by International Services Shanghai, the dialogue brought together international thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and experts to discuss not only the frontiers of AI, but also the conditions that enable innovation to flourish, including access to talent, investor networks, policy support, and everyday services.

“AI is going to flatten the world, being able to connect with anyone in any language,” Reichert said.

For Reichert, who has visited China regularly since 2012, the real revelation lay beyond the technology itself. In that demonstration, he saw a metaphor for what Shanghai offers: a place where linguistic, cultural, and professional barriers are actively dismantled.

As the dialogue continued, participants reached a shared conclusion: As the host city of the annual WAIC, Shanghai is not merely adopting AI; it is building an environment where global talent can connect, create, and thrive without the friction often associated with cross-border collaboration.

AI as an enabler

Gary Dvorchak, managing director of The Blueshirt Group and head of its Asia practice, came to WAIC expecting to see impressive technology. The conference exceeded his expectations. AI had already reduced costs and accelerated workflows in his industry in ways he had not anticipated.

But what truly struck him was the prevailing attitude among the exhibitors, entrepreneurs, and visitors he met: an eagerness to experiment and adopt.

“There’s no fear of AI here,” he said. “Everyone is embracing it and thinking about how they can use it to make life better.”

Tong Huiqi, a clinical psychologist and clinical professor at Stanford School of Medicine, shared how she uses an AI-assisted documentation system to free herself from note-taking during consultations.

“My clients love it because AI allows me to be 100 percent connected with them,” Tong said.

For Costa Rican conductor Edwin Montealegre, AI has already become a creative collaborator.

“I use AI to brainstorm ideas,” he said. “It gives me more time for artistic inspiration, for connecting with people, and for myself.”

Shanghai as an incubator

Yet Montealegre was equally quick to praise Shanghai’s practical support systems. While establishing his company in the city, he encountered a bureaucratic hurdle he couldn’t resolve on his own. He turned to International Services Shanghai, a platform designed to help expatriates navigate work, business, and daily life, and the issue was resolved promptly.

“It helped me a lot at the beginning, when I was establishing our company,” he said.

For Montealegre, Shanghai’s appeal lies not only in its creative energy but also in the practical infrastructure that supports international professionals.

The sentiment was echoed by Tong.

“There’s the beauty, there’s the openness, there’s the romance,” she said, adding that the warmth of the city’s residents and the sense of connection she found there made Shanghai especially welcoming.

For Rupert Hoogewerf, chairman of Hurun Inc, Shanghai’s international outlook sets it apart. He pointed to the city’s universities, investor community, deep talent pool, and established companies as key pillars of an ecosystem where startups can launch, grow, and scale. Supportive policies for overseas returnees further strengthen its appeal.

“You can feel that the government is really encouraging young people to explore AI, understand it, use it, and think about how to make it better,” he said.

Having founded his business in Shanghai in 1999, Hoogewerf’s experience reflects the city’s ability not only to attract global talent but also to retain it. “The ability to build a company and draw on a deep pool of talent has helped me remain here over the long term,” he said.

Looking ahead, Hoogewerf believes the opportunities in China’s AI sector remain widely underestimated. He described Shanghai as “a great incubation platform” where talent, capital, established businesses, and policy resources converge. At WAIC, he met entrepreneurs running one-person companies using AI tools, alongside others applying AI to traditional sectors such as metals and minerals analysis.

“There is a massive transformation going on,” he said. “You can apply AI in lots of different places.”

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SOURCE english.shanghai.gov.cn

Technology

LIGHTSPEED ANNOUNCES VOTING RESULTS FROM ITS ANNUAL AND SPECIAL SHAREHOLDERS’ MEETING

Published

54 minutes ago

July 31, 2026

MONTREAL, July 31, 2026 /CNW/ — Lightspeed Commerce Inc. (“Lightspeed” or the “Company”) (TSX: LSPD) (NYSE: LSPD), the unified omnichannel platform powering ambitious retail, golf and hospitality businesses in over 100 countries, today announced the voting results for the items of business put forth by the Company at its annual and special shareholders meeting held on July 30th, 2026 (the “Meeting”).

Shareholders of the Company voted in favor of all items of business put forth at the Meeting by the Company. The voting results for each item of business at the Meeting are presented below.

1. Election of Directors

The seven (7) candidates proposed as directors were duly elected directors of the Company by a majority of the votes cast by the shareholders present or represented by proxy at the Meeting, as follows:

Name of Nominee

Votes For

Votes Against

Manon Brouillette

87,910,709

98.78 %

1,089,920

1.22 %

Dale Murray

87,206,302

97.98 %

1,794,327

2.02 %

Dax Dasilva

88,814,203

99.79 %

186,427

0.21 %

Nathalie Gaveau

88,067,937

98.95 %

932,694

1.05 %

Glen LeBlanc

88,701,374

99.66 %

299,256

0.34 %

Sameer Samat

88,076,056

98.96 %

924,474

1.04 %

Odilon Almeida

87,996,730

98.87 %

1,003,900

1.13 %

2. Appointment of Auditors

A ballot was conducted with respect to the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) as the Company’s auditors. According to the proxies received and ballots cast, PwC was appointed the Company’s auditors with the following results:

Votes For: 91,715,046 (99.54%)
Votes Withheld: 426,212 (0.46%)

3. Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

A ballot was conducted with respect to approving an advisory, non-binding resolution on the Company’s approach to executive compensation as more fully described in the Company’s management information circular. According to the proxies received and ballots cast, such advisory, non-binding resolution on the Company’s approach to executive compensation was approved with the following results:

Votes For: 87,432,295 (98.16%)
Votes Against: 1,643,263 (1.84%)

4. Ordinary Resolution in respect of the Amended and Restated Omnibus Incentive Plan

A ballot was conducted with respect to approving an ordinary resolution, the full text of which is reproduced on Schedule D to the management information circular for the Meeting, to (1) approve an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Omnibus Incentive Plan (as defined in the management information circular) to extend the term of such plan to the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Meeting and (2) approve all unallocated options, rights and other entitlements thereunder. According to the proxies received and ballots cast, such ordinary resolution in respect of the Amended and Restated Omnibus Incentive Plan was approved with the following results:

Votes For: 62,280,332 (70.04%)
Votes Against: 26,645,364 (29.96%)

Final voting results on all matters voted at the Meeting are available on Lightspeed’s website and on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com and EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

About Lightspeed

Lightspeed is the POS and payments platform powering businesses at the heart of communities in over 100 countries. As the partner of choice for ambitious retail, golf and hospitality entrepreneurs, Lightspeed helps businesses accelerate growth, deliver exceptional customer experiences, and run smarter across all channels and locations.

With fast, flexible omnichannel technology, Lightspeed brings together point of sale, ecommerce, embedded payments, inventory, reporting, staff and supplier management, financial services, and an exclusive wholesale retail network. Backed by insights, and expert support, Lightspeed helps businesses run more efficiently and focus on what they do best.

Founded in Montréal, Canada in 2005, Lightspeed is dual-listed on the New York Stock Exchange and Toronto Stock Exchange (NYSE: LSPD) (TSX: LSPD), with teams across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

For more information, see www.lightspeedhq.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may include forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws (“forward-looking statements”). Forward-looking statements are statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions and are identified by words such as “will”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “estimates” or similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Such statements are based on current expectations of Lightspeed’s management and inherently involve numerous risks and uncertainties, known and unknown, including economic factors. A number of risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this news release, including, among other factors, those risk factors identified in our most recent Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, under “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Information Form, and in our other filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which are available under our profiles on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned to consider these and other factors carefully when making decisions with respect to Lightspeed’s subordinate voting shares and not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are not guarantees of future performance and, while forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions that Lightspeed considers reasonable, actual events and results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements made by Lightspeed. Except as may be expressly required by applicable law, Lightspeed does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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SOURCE Lightspeed Commerce Inc.

Technology

DFRobot at FAB26 Boston: Empowering Global Developers and Advancing AI Education Through Open-Source Hardware

Published

54 minutes ago

July 31, 2026

SHANGHAI, July 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — From July 27 to 31, 2026, the 22nd Fab Lab Global Conference (FAB26 Boston) was held at the MIT campus and Fab Hub Kendall in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Marking the 25th anniversary of the global maker movement, the conference brought together Fab Lab community members from around the world to reflect on the past and explore the future of digital fabrication and innovation. DFRobot participated deeply in the event through a series of workshops, keynote sessions, and hands-on demonstrations, showcasing how programmable hardware platforms and accessible development environments continue to empower creators and developers at different levels.

MIT Media Lab Workshop: Ten Years of Hardware Innovation, Five Years of Making AI Accessible

On July 27, Yang Shaodong, Senior Training Engineer at DFRobot, hosted a hands-on workshop titled “10 Years of Making, 5 Years of AI.” The workshop brought together Fab Lab leaders and makerspace organizers from eight countries, including the Netherlands, the United States, Japan, Peru, Finland, India, Jordan, and Colombia.

During the session, Yang reviewed DFRobot’s decade-long journey in bringing open source hardware into K-12 education in China — from the early days of using Arduino to connect code with the physical world, to today’s AI era, where students can complete image acquisition, model training, and local deployment through the Mind+ 2.0 programming platform and UNIHIKER M10. Using a lunar phase recognition project as an example, the workshop demonstrated a complete AI workflow that required no cloud infrastructure and no advanced programming background. By turning AI into a tangible and verifiable physical system, the session showed that AI development is no longer limited to cloud-based black-box APIs, but can become a programmable, transparent, and embedded tool for real-world applications.

MIT Museum International Youth Maker Challenge

On July 28, DFRobot collaborated with internationally recognized maker educator Rico Kanthatham to host a cross-country youth maker challenge at the MIT Museum. Students from the United States, Malaysia, France, and other countries participated in an engaging micro:bit and DFRobot Maqueen robot innovation competition.

The activity introduced a creative interactive experience: participants used micro devices attached to their legs to collect real-time movement data, transmitted the data through infrared communication, and controlled Maqueen robots to compete. Through immersive human-machine interaction and game-based learning, students from different countries experienced the possibilities of digital fabrication and creative technology.

AI Bidirectional Programming Workshop: UNIHIKER K10 Sparks Creativity at FAB26

On July 29, Rockets Xia, Co-founder of Mushroom Cloud Maker Space, hosted a workshop featuring UNIHIKER K10 under the theme “Code for AI, AI for Code.” The session explored both sides of AI programming — teaching participants how to build AI applications with code while also demonstrating how AI can assist the programming process.

The workshop attracted technology educators and experienced makers from Mexico, the United States, Paraguay, Peru, India, Colombia, and other countries. Using UNIHIKER K10 as the development platform, participants explored practical implementations of computer vision, voice interaction, and other AI applications with UNIHIKER K10’s edge AI capabilities. The projects created during the workshop showcased diverse ideas. One participant developed a smart tree-growing project using a light sensor — when the sensor was covered, the virtual tree stopped growing. Another created an environmental monitoring device that changed the screen expression to a “sad face” when indoor CO₂ levels exceeded a certain threshold.

eduFAB International Education Forum: Bringing Maker Education to Rural Communities Worldwide

Rebecca Jiang, Operations Manager of Mushroom Cloud Maker Space, delivered a keynote speech titled “Bringing Maker Education to Rural Communities Worldwide,” sharing the team’s experience in expanding AI and STEM education to underserved communities.

She highlighted the long-term collaboration with Shanghai Chunhe Youth Development Center, through which AI and maker education programs have been introduced to rural K-12 schools in regions such as Guizhou and Yunnan, China. Since 2023, the initiative has reached more than 100 schools and 10,000 students through project-based learning, accessible tools, and community-driven education models.

Since 2022, Mushroom Cloud has also supported the Chunhe ETS Conference by providing AI and STEM learning resources, helping extend structured technology education to more rural students.

Exhibition Showcase: Cross-disciplinary Projects and Replicable Innovation Frameworks

From July 29 to 31, DFRobot showcased multiple interdisciplinary educational projects during the conference exhibition, including the Maqueen robot, UNIHIKER K10, and HuskyLens 2 AI Vision Sensor solutions. These projects attracted strong interest from educators, makers, and developers.

Featured projects included:

AI-powered Microscopic Cell Recognition Module: This project introduced AI into biology education by combining a microscope module with HuskyLens 2, a self-trained cell recognition model, and UNIHIKER K10 to achieve real-time cell identification. The project demonstrated how AI can work together with real scientific data in classroom and research scenarios.

micro Natural Science Expansion Board: The exhibition also featured a micro expansion board integrating 14 types of natural science-related sensors, attracting attention from educators interested in interdisciplinary STEM learning.

From Maker Communities to a Global Developer Network

At FAB26 Boston, DFRobot highlighted its commitment to empowering creators through open-source hardware and accessible AI. By combining an open hardware ecosystem, locally deployable AI workflows, and easy-to-use development platforms, DFRobot continues to lower the barriers between ideas and real-world innovation. Looking ahead, the company will continue working with the global Fab Lab community and developers to advance open technologies for education, research, and professional applications.

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SOURCE DFRobot

Technology

Armory Defense Launches Offensive Agentic-AI Simulations to Prove Exploitable Risk Before Attackers Strike

Published

54 minutes ago

July 31, 2026

New autonomous AI agents simulate real adversaries to validate and prove exploitable attack paths across the external attack surface – so security teams act on proven risk, not theoretical alerts

TEL AVIV, Israel, July 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Armory Defense, an Israeli offensive security company, today announced the launch of Offensive Agentic-AI Simulations, the core capability of its continuous adversarial exposure validation platform. Autonomous AI agents continuously attack an organization’s external attack surface to identify, validate, and prove which exposures can actually be exploited – before real attackers do.

The simulations are tailor-made for each organization, accounting for its unique infrastructure, business processes, and threat landscape. Rather than running generic checks, the agents replicate real attacker behavior against organization-specific attack paths and high-value assets, then deliver a safe, controlled proof of impact for every exposure they exploit.

The launch comes as adversaries use AI to discover, chain, and exploit weaknesses at machine speed. Armory Defense has seen a critical VPN vulnerability (CVSS 9.8) that once took weeks to weaponize turned into a working exploit in roughly 40 minutes using an AI-guided workflow – showing why point-in-time assessments can no longer keep pace.

The simulations are organized into Hackbooks – collections of attacks focused on a specific domain, such as login and authentication abuse, API exploitation, database attacks, and validation of known CVEs. Together they give continuous coverage across the external attack surface.

Unlike tools that generate large volumes of theoretical alerts, Armory Defense focuses on validated, exploitable risk. By providing evidence instead of assumptions, it helps teams cut alert fatigue and prioritize remediation. The platform is fully agentless and begins validating immediately without disrupting operations.

“We don’t find risk, we prove it,” said Alon Aharon, Co-Founder and CEO of Armory Defense. “Our autonomous AI agents safely simulate real attacks, reveal the exact paths an attacker could take, and provide evidence of exploitable risk so security teams can focus on what truly needs to be fixed.”

Offensive Agentic-AI Simulations join Armory Defense’s external attack surface management, exposure intelligence, and third-party validation to give organizations a single, continuous view of where they can actually be breached.

About Armory Defense

Armory Defense is an Israeli cybersecurity company founded in 2023 that provides an AI-driven adversarial exposure validation platform for continuous cyber risk validation. Combining agentic-AI simulations, external attack surface management, exposure intelligence, and third-party validation, it helps organizations identify, validate, and prioritize exploitable risks before they become breaches. Armory Defense supports customers globally through operations in Israel and Mexico.

For more information, visit:
https://armorydefense.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/armorydefense
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aharon-alon

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/3008543/Armory_Defense_CEO_Alon_Aharon.jpg

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SOURCE Armory Defense