Manulife Announces Presenting Partnership of The Hinton Lectures™ on AI Safety

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This partnership will advance public understanding of AI safety, led by Nobel Laureate Geoffrey Hinton and supported by Manulife's commitment to Responsible AI

TORONTO, Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Manulife is proud to announce a two-year presenting partnership with The Hinton Lectures™, supporting the 2026 and 2027 lecture series dedicated to advancing public understanding and scientific discourse on AI safety. The 2026 lectures, which will be held in Toronto this November, are co-founded by Nobel Laureate Professor Geoffrey Hinton, a renowned AI expert, and the AI Safety Foundation.

This partnership builds on Manulife's commitment to Responsible AI and support for informed dialogue on the responsible development of AI. Guided by its Responsible AI Principles, Manulife is focused on developing and deploying AI in a way that creates value for customers, colleagues and society while maintaining trust, managing risk, and promoting accountability.

"Our support for The Hinton Lectures™ reflects Manulife's commitment to advancing responsible AI," said Jodie Wallis, Manulife's Global Chief AI Officer. "AI is evolving quickly, and so are the questions around how we develop and use it responsibly. The Hinton Lectures bring together thoughtful perspectives from across research, industry and policy, and we're proud to be part of that conversation."

The Hinton Lectures™ are hosted by Professor Geoffrey Hinton and feature world-leading experts in AI safety. This year's keynote speaker is Paul Christiano, a leading expert in AI safety and alignment. The lecture series will take place November 9-11, 2026, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto. The events are open to the public and will also be livestreamed.

Manulife senior leaders will participate throughout the series, delivering opening remarks and sharing perspectives on responsible AI, governance, trust and innovation alongside leaders from research, industry and policy.

"We're pleased to welcome Manulife back to The Hinton Lectures, this year as our presenting partner," said Ankesh Chandaria, CEO of the AI Safety Foundation. "Their expanded support reflects a shared commitment to advancing thoughtful conversations about the responsibilities that come with AI. We're proud to partner with an organization that is helping drive the responsible adoption of AI and bring these important discussions to a broader audience."

Manulife has been actively investing in and scaling AI capabilities since 2016. In the past four years, the firm has significantly increased the value enabled through AI by expanding its AI solutions portfolio and increasing efficiency through data and AI platform investments. Manulife has been named the number one life insurance company for AI maturity for the second consecutive year, and ranks among the top insurers overall in the 2026 Evident AI Index for Insurance. More information on Manulife's AI progress can be found on Manulife.com/AI.

The public can register for tickets or the livestream online at HintonLectures.com. The event is organized by the AI Safety Foundation and hosted by Professor Geoffrey Hinton.

For additional details on the 2026 Hinton Lectures, including this year's distinguished lecturer announcement, please see the AI Safety Foundation's announcement here. 

About Manulife   

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Anchored in our ambition to be the number one choice for customers, we operate as Manulife across Canada and Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, providing financial advice, insurance and health solutions for individuals, groups and businesses. Through Manulife Wealth & Asset Management, we offer global investment solutions, financial advice, and retirement plan services to individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2025, we had more than 37,000 employees, over 106,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 37 million customers with operations across 25 markets globally. We trade as 'MFC' on the Toronto, New York, and Philippine stock exchanges, and under '945' on the Hong Kong stock exchange. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com.

Media Contact
Emily English (647) 544-2800
emily_english@manulife.ca

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Manulife Announces Presenting Partnership of The Hinton Lectures™ on AI Safety

GUANGZHOU, China, Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- In September, GAC's own-brand exports reached 25,693 units, up 160.9% year-on-year, marking 9 consecutive months of over 100% growth. Cumulative exports from January to September reached 197,701 units, up 138.9%, reaching 156.7% of last year's full-year total and charging toward the annual target of 300,000 units.

Asia-Pacific: Localization Efforts Reach New Heights, Brand Building Achieves Breakthroughs

In September, Southeast Asian sales rose 32% year-on-year, with Laos up 433%, the Philippines up 301%, and Indonesia up 79%. In Hong Kong SAR, the E9 PHEV reclaimed No.1 in MPV sales in August. On September 17, GAC's Cambodia KD plant launched, marking a shift from complete vehicle exports to local manufacturing. GAC won the 2026 Philippine Automotive Industry Breakthrough Brand Award. On September 20, Myanmar's First Vice President Nyo Saw visited GAC. The GAC GN8 served as the official vehicle for the APEC SME Ministerial Meeting and the 2026 Fortune Global 500 Forum.

Europe: Accelerating New Market Expansion, Product Strength Receives Authoritative Certification

In September, the UK was up 392%, Greece up 102%, and Switzerland up 650% month-on-month. The AION UT and AION V ranked 3rd in Greece's BEV segment in August. The AION UT earned a 2026 Euro NCAP five-star rating and won the 2026 TADA Turin Automotive Design Award for Best Exterior Design. It launched in the UK, Denmark, Norway, and France. GAC became the official automotive partner of La Liga club Villarreal.

Americas: Continuously Improving Product Portfolio, Supporting Local Green Transportation Transformation

In September, terminal sales rose 111% year-on-year, with Brazil up 280%, Colombia up 337%, and Ecuador up 137%. In Uruguay, GAC ranked 3rd in all-brand sales in August, and the AION V won the compact SUV sales championship for 2 consecutive months. The GS4 MAX HEV and S7 ULTRA AWD PHEV launched in Uruguay. GAC delivered 100 AION UT units in Chile.

Middle East, Africa & CIS: Brand Upward Breakthrough, Reshaping Market Landscape with Tech Luxury

In September, African sales surged 560% year-on-year, with Libya up 41% and Côte d'Ivoire up 84%. CIS sales rose 176%, with Azerbaijan up 191%. The GS7 PHEV launched in Dubai on September 12. On September 24, GAC launched the GN8 PHEV, HYPTEC HT and HYPTEC SSR in Casablanca, Morocco.

For further information about GAC, please visit: https://www.gacgroup.com/en or follow us on social media.

 

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GAC Exports 197,000 Vehicles in Jan-Sep, Marking Nine Consecutive Months of Year-on-Year Doubling