Technology innovators and industrial leaders have arrived in Jinan, East China's Shandong province, for the 2026 Artificial Intelligence Industry Conference.

The annual event is being held outside Beijing for the first time and is taking place at the Jinan Yellow River International Convention and Exhibition Center from Oct 14 to 16. More than 300 domestic and overseas leading enterprises and innovation organizations are participating, showcasing the latest technologies and applications across the AI industry chain.

The conference features major players in computing infrastructure, large language models, and embodied intelligence. Companies including Huawei, Inspur, Nvidia, China Mobile, Alibaba, Tencent, and iFlytek are showcasing AI technologies and solutions, while robotics firms such as Unitree, UBTech, and Yobotics are presenting advances in intelligent machines.

AI applications in the real economy are a key focus of the event, with industrial giants including Haier, BYD, Weiqiao Pioneering Group, and Shandong Heavy Industry Group highlighting how AI is being integrated into sectors such as manufacturing, energy, ports, and finance.

The conference brings together experts, scholars, and industry leaders to discuss AI-driven industrial development, with Academician Zheng Zhiming of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Nobel laureate in physics Giorgio Parisi scheduled to deliver keynote speeches. More than 20 forums will also explore emerging areas including AI agents, embodied intelligence, and edge AI, the practice of running AI and machine learning algorithms directly on local hardware devices.

The 2026 Artificial Intelligence Industry Conference takes place in Jinan from Oct 14 to 16. [Photo/Shandian News]