The 2026 World Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit opened on Tuesday in Wuzhen, east China’s Zhejiang Province, bringing together governments, international organizations, businesses and academics from around the world.
Under the theme “Open Source and Openness, Collaborative Development and Shared Benefits – Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace,” this year’s summit focuses on open-source AI, with discussions covering technological innovation, security governance, cultural exchanges and international cooperation.
A highlight of the main forum is the AI Wuzhen Dialogue, which brings together leading global technology companies, executives from open-source large language model companies and AI scientists to explore ways to build a global open-source AI ecosystem. The summit also features 27 sub-forums covering topics such as cyberspace cooperation under the Global Governance Initiative, theories and policies in the digital and intelligent era, and robotics and embodied intelligence.
The summit has also attracted international participation in its case collection and technology awards. The call for outstanding cases of jointly building a community with a shared future in cyberspace received 360 submissions from 80 countries and regions, 22 of which participated for the first time. Eleven cases were shortlisted. Meanwhile, the World Internet Conference Awards for Pioneering Science and Technology received more than 430 submissions from 43 countries and regions. Eighteen countries and regions submitted entries for the first time, while the number of international submissions increased by 21% year on year. A total of 20 projects received awards.
Wang Jian, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said he believes the WIC will continue to play an important role in China’s AI development. As open source and openness are global in nature, he said, the Wuzhen Summit can help China contribute to global AI development.
John Hoffman, CEO of GSMA Ltd., said the Wuzhen Summit provides a platform for sharing information and bringing together ideas on how to build an open internet accessible to all. He said this year’s theme also reflects the summit’s longstanding commitment to leaving no one behind and creating opportunities for the future of the world.
