Artificial intelligence takes center stage at Light of Internet Expo

Artificial intelligence (AI) takes center stage at the Light of Internet Expo which opened on Tuesday in Wuzhen Town, Tongxiang City of east China's Zhejiang Province, as part of the 2024 World Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit.

AI is the highlight of this year's Light of Internet Expo as the AI-themed products are showcased through the entire event. To highlight its significance, dedicated AI experience zones and humanoid robot exhibition areas have been set up.

A humanoid robot, the latest product presented by an exhibitor after several upgrades, features advanced mimicry and reinforcement learning capabilities. It can walk, run, and even dance with ease, making it versatile for use in industrial applications and everyday life scenarios.

So far, a total of 665 domestic and international exhibitors have participated in the expo through both online and offline channels, showcasing cutting-edge technologies and the latest applications in fields such as AI algorithms, intelligent connected vehicles, and the low-altitude economy.

During the event, more than 100 launching ceremonies of new products and technologies are scheduled, marking the highest number in the expo's history.

The achievements of smart technology are not only for display at the expo but are also for practical use in Wuzhen this year.

For the first time, a smart police patrol team composed of robotic dogs, unmanned boats, and auto pilot vehicles has been deployed. These devices can climb stairs, navigate rough terrain, and are equipped with various advanced smart systems to efficiently support law enforcement operations.

To handle potential communication surges, Wuzhen has implemented a low-latency 5G-A network across the entire area this year. The network integrates AI and sensing technologies, enabling the launch of numerous new smart application scenarios.

Themed "Embracing a People-centered and AI-for-good Digital Future - Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace," the 2024 WIC Wuzhen Summit will run through Nov 22. A total of 24 sub-forums on topics such as Global Development Initiative, digital economy, and data governance, as well as a series of activities will be held during the summit.

Since 2014, the Wuzhen Summit has been successfully held for ten consecutive years. Currently, the WIC includes about 170 institutions, organizations, companies, and individuals from over 30 countries and regions across six continents as its members.

Artificial intelligence takes center stage at Light of Internet Expo

More than a month ahead of the Chinese New Year, restaurants across China have reported a booming demand for reunion dinners, with popular places already fully reserved.

The family reunion dinners on the eve of the Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival, is the most important meal of the year for Chinese people. It has long been an essential part of celebrating the Chinese New Year. This year, the festival falls on Feb 17.

In Taiyuan, capital city of north China's Shanxi Province, one restaurant said all tables for the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner have been reserved.

"We now have 36 private rooms and 13 tables in the hall. The New Year's Eve dinner is fully booked. Many families started reserving as early as November 2025," said Han Huiyan, a restaurant manager.

To meet the demand, many restaurants start to offer takeaway banquet package that can be easily prepared at home, allowing families to enjoy a variety of festive dishes without dining out.

In Ningbo, a city in east China's Zhejiang Province, many popular restaurants said that they are approaching full reservation levels. To reduce peak demand, some restaurants now offer off-peak reunion dinners starting later at night.

"We now offer a 'second round' of New Year's Eve dinners, which start at 19:30. We also offer discount for such New Year's Eve dinners, a promotion of 20 percent off set menus," said Sun Lijuan, a restaurant manager.

In Lianyungang, a city in east China's Jiangsu Province, smaller private rooms of a local restaurant have been nearly sold out, and customized menus and home-delivery services have drawn strong interest.

"This year we have specially launched the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner delivery service. Bookings are very strong and customers really like this option," said Geng Maoran, a restaurant general manager.

Restaurants see surge in bookings for Chinese New Year's Eve dinners