WAIC 2026 Preview: Intelligent Computing and Embodied AI Tracks Each Draw Over 200 Exhibitors

The World AI Conference (WAIC 2026), set to open on July 17-20 in Shanghai, has disclosed its latest exhibition scale. According to the organizers, the intelligent computing and embodied AI tracks have each drawn more than 200 exhibitors, signaling the intense commercial momentum in both sectors within China's AI ecosystem.

The intelligent computing track covers AI chips, computing infrastructure, and cloud platforms — the foundational layer for enterprise AI deployment. The embodied AI track spans humanoid robots, industrial robotics, service robots, and related perception and motion control technologies, representing one of the most active areas of AI investment globally. The 200-plus exhibitor count in each track underscores that these two directions have become the primary engines of China's AI industry growth.

Beyond the exhibition floor, WAIC 2026 features a robust academic agenda centered on fundamental theoretical innovation. Three high-level forums — the Smale Mathematics and AI Forum, the Huayuan Computational Cognitive Intelligence Forum, and the WAICA Mathematical Modeling and Scientific Computing Symposium — aim to push AI development beyond engineering iteration toward a phase where theoretical breakthroughs and industrial deployment advance in tandem.

The conference will also bring back the widely discussed "Mathematics Challenge" activity. At WAIC 2025, Fields Medalist Shing-Tung Yau posed live problems for multiple Chinese large models to solve on stage, sparking extensive industry discussion. This year's theoretical track will further explore how mathematics underpins AI and how AI in turn accelerates mathematical research.

Embodied AI remains one of the most anticipated segments. With companies like Tesla (Optimus), Unitree, and Agibot continuously iterating their humanoid robot products, the field has moved from concept demonstration toward productization. The gathering of over 200 companies in this track signals an accelerating race toward commercial deployment.

WAIC 2026's full agenda is expected to be released gradually before the opening. As one of the world's most important barometers for the AI industry, the conference's exhibition scale, academic depth, and industry participation will offer a key lens into AI development trends for the second half of 2026.