World Internet Conference to host AI-focused summit in Hong Kong

The World Internet Conference will hold its first high-level forum outside Chinese mainland next month, with artificial intelligence among the key topics at its Asia-Pacific Summit in Hong Kong, organizers said on Monday.

The summit, scheduled for April 14-15, will bring together government officials, business leaders, and academics from around the world. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government is a co-organizer.

Ren Xianliang, secretary-general of the WIC, said the event will feature sub-forums on large AI models, digital finance, digital government, and smart technology in daily life.

"During the Chinese New Year holiday, Chinese tech startup DeepSeek launched a large AI model, reshaping global perceptions of artificial intelligence and pushing its development to the brink of industrial transformation," Ren said.

Discussions will focus on the generalization and specialization of large AI models, the open-source ecosystem, and high-performance computing chips, he said, adding that business executives and academic experts will explore new strategies for advancing AI applications.

Another key theme of the summit will be the use of cutting-edge digital technology to enhance urban governance, Ren said.

"Technologies such as 5G, big data, and AI are rapidly integrating into daily life—improving transportation, healthcare, elderly care, and cultural tourism while driving unprecedented innovation," he said.

Still, challenges remain. "Despite widespread use of digital technology, there are significant discrepancies in its depth of application and level of coordination across different sectors, with many pressing issues yet to be resolved," Ren said.

The summit will include discussions on practical cases and solutions for applying digital technology to government governance and urban-rural life, according to the WIC.