GSLDC Brings “AI FOR THE FUTURE” to the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference

More than 80 representatives from international organizations, academia, technology, industry, and investment convened in Shanghai to explore how artificial intelligence can move beyond generating content and create meaningful impact in the real world.

Shanghai, China · 17 July 2026

The Global SDGs and Leadership Development Center (GSLDC) brought its flagship “AI FOR THE FUTURE” initiative to Shanghai during the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), convening more than 80 representatives from international organizations, academia, technology, industry, and investment for a special exhibition visit and exchange event focused on how artificial intelligence can create meaningful impact in the real world.

The event was jointly organized by The Global SDGs and Leadership Development Center (GSLDC) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), with the China University of Political Science and Law, China AI 100, and the Listed Companies AI Evolution Lab serving as co-organizers.

Held alongside the exhibition “Designing for the Real World: A Decade of the Sustainable Development Goals”, the gathering brought together diverse perspectives on AI governance, sustainable development, technological innovation, and the role of human values in shaping the future of artificial intelligence.

Connecting AI Innovation with Real-World Impact

At the heart of the event was a shared question: as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly powerful, how can it move beyond simply generating content and instead help people understand challenges, connect communities, and create positive change?

Representing GSLDC, Professor Huang Zhong, Executive Director of GSLDC, highlighted the close relationship between artificial intelligence and sustainable development.

“AI and the Sustainable Development Goals share one very important characteristic: no matter how advanced the technology or how ambitious the goals, they must ultimately return to the real world and create a positive impact in the real world.”

This principle reflects GSLDC’s broader approach to emerging technologies: technological progress should not be measured by capability alone, but also by how effectively it contributes to people, communities, and sustainable development.

Advancing Global Dialogue on AI Governance

The event also provided a platform for international dialogue on the future governance of artificial intelligence.

Mr. Houlin Zhao, former Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union, emphasized the importance of global cooperation alongside technological advancement. Drawing on his experience promoting inclusive information and communication technologies, he called for stronger collaboration among governments, international organizations, businesses, universities, and research institutions to ensure that technological progress serves the shared interests of humanity.

Lu Junqun, Secretary-General of the Institute for AI International Governance at Tsinghua University, similarly emphasized that AI governance is inherently global and cannot be addressed by any single institution or country. He highlighted the need for greater international coordination across AI safety, development, ethics, and practical application.

The dialogue reflected GSLDC’s commitment to building platforms that connect international organizations, universities, researchers, industry leaders, and young innovators around responsible and sustainable approaches to emerging technology.

“AI FOR THE FUTURE”: Technology, Creativity and Humanity

The Shanghai event featured a dedicated “AI FOR THE FUTURE” special exhibition, presenting AI-generated and AI-enabled works across visual art, moving image, interactive experiences, and design.

The exhibition explored how AI can contribute to areas including:

• digital culture and creative industries;
• digital consumption and new economic models;
• women’s empowerment and social inclusion; and
• green development and sustainability.

Launched by GSLDC, the AI FOR THE FUTURE initiative has grown into an international platform connecting artificial intelligence, creativity, culture, and sustainable development.

The initiative has been advanced in collaboration with organizations including the International Council for Film, Television and Audiovisual Communication (IFTC/UNESCO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Its works and outcomes have previously been presented at Expo 2025 Osaka and the 2026 AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva.

In Shanghai, GSLDC brought together key works from these international showcases, presenting 100 works from 17 countries and regions and demonstrating how creators from diverse cultural backgrounds are using artificial intelligence to respond to real-world opportunities and challenges.

Building Bridges Across Sectors

The Shanghai exchange brought together representatives from international organizations including the International Telecommunication Union, the United Nations High-level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence, and GSMA, alongside scholars and researchers from institutions including Tsinghua University, China University of Political Science and Law, New York University, Yale University, and Harvard University.

Representatives from the private sector, including Alibaba, SenseTime, China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group, and Standard Chartered Bank, also participated in the dialogue.

For GSLDC, this diversity of participation reflects an important principle: the future of artificial intelligence cannot be shaped by the technology sector alone.

Meaningful progress requires collaboration across policy, education, research, culture, business, design, and civil society.

From Global Dialogue to Action

Through AI FOR THE FUTURE, GSLDC aims to create a platform where technological innovation is connected with human needs and the Sustainable Development Goals.

From Expo 2025 Osaka, to the AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva, and now the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, the initiative continues to bring together creators, institutions, and communities to explore how artificial intelligence can become a force for positive and inclusive development.

The Shanghai gathering reinforced a simple but important idea:

The true value of AI will ultimately be measured not only by what it can generate, but by what it enables people and communities to achieve.

For GSLDC, AI FOR THE FUTURE is therefore not simply an exhibition about emerging technology. It is an ongoing international platform for exploring how AI can help address real challenges, strengthen human connection, and contribute to a more inclusive and sustainable digital future.