The 25th China Internet Conference opened at the China National Convention Center in Beijing on July 8, 2026, running through July 10 under the theme of empowering new industrialization through digital and intelligent technologies. The event, organized by the Internet Society of China, brought together major tech companies, telecom operators, and government agencies to showcase how AI is being deployed across manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and urban governance.
The conference's dominant narrative was the transition from AI experimentation to AI deployment at scale. Exhibits featured AI agents — autonomous software systems that can plan, reason, and execute multi-step tasks — being integrated into factory production lines, supply chain management, and customer service platforms. China Mobile, for instance, demonstrated an AI-powered industrial inspection system that uses computer vision and edge computing to detect equipment anomalies in real time, reducing downtime by up to 30% in pilot deployments.
Large language models (LLMs) were another focal point. Multiple Chinese AI companies, including Zhipu AI (which recently released the 355B-parameter GLM-4.5 open-source model), showcased domain-specific LLM applications for legal document review, medical diagnosis assistance, and financial risk analysis. The conference highlighted that China now has over 1,500 registered AI models, with the competition increasingly shifting from model size to application-layer differentiation and cost efficiency.
Digital twin technology emerged as a cross-cutting theme. Exhibitors demonstrated virtual replicas of entire factory floors, city districts, and transportation networks that enable real-time monitoring, simulation, and optimization. These digital twins are being used to reduce energy consumption in manufacturing, optimize traffic flow in smart cities, and predict maintenance needs in infrastructure projects. The integration of digital twins with AI agents creates a feedback loop where virtual models inform real-world decisions and vice versa.
The conference also addressed governance and regulatory frameworks. A dedicated forum on legal and regulatory issues discussed how to balance innovation with safety, data privacy, and algorithmic fairness. The timing is significant: China's AI industry is maturing rapidly, and the regulatory environment is evolving from permissive experimentation to structured oversight. The conference served as a platform for industry and government to align on standards and best practices for responsible AI deployment.
Knowledge takeaway: The 25th China Internet Conference showcased AI's shift from lab to factory floor, with AI agents, LLMs, and digital twins deployed in real industrial settings; China now has over 1,500 AI models, with competition shifting to application-layer value; digital twin technology enables real-time monitoring and optimization of physical systems; regulatory discussions signal a maturing governance framework for AI; the conference reflects China's strategy of embedding AI across its entire industrial base.