The World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) took place in Shanghai from July 4th to July 7th, 2024. This year’s theme is “Governing AI for Good and for All,” and the event will be held in a vast exhibition area of 52,000 square meters.
One of the most anticipated highlights of the conference is the appearance of Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla. Musk is expected to deliver a speech at the opening ceremony, but whether he will attend in person or via video remains unclear. In the past, Musk has participated in WAIC with in-person attendance in 2019 and video messages in 2021 and 2022.
Musk’s recent visit to China in April 2024, where he met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing, adds further significance to his involvement in the conference. During this visit, they discussed Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software and data-transfer permissions. Premier Li Qiang is also scheduled to make a speech at WAIC.
Tesla will have a strong presence at the conference, showcasing its innovative products. The Cybertruck will be on display, along with the latest generation of Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus Gen 2. This advanced robot features in-house designed actuators and sensors, a 2-DoF actuated neck, and a 30% faster walking speed compared to its predecessor. Two Optimus robots are already performing tasks autonomously in Tesla’s factories.
Musk’s speech at WAIC coincides with the European Union imposing preliminary tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle (EV) imports. Tesla, being the largest exporter of EVs from China to Europe, faces an additional 21% tariff. The company has requested a separate duty rate from the Commission.
WAIC will bring together top scientists, industry leaders, and government officials to discuss AI advancements, robotics, autonomous systems, large models, computing power, and “AI+” applications. At the 2023 conference, Musk praised China’s rapid progress in AI and highlighted the transformative potential of AI and autonomous driving technologies.
With Musk’s participation and Tesla’s innovative showcases, the World AI Conference in Shanghai promises to be an exciting and highly anticipated event.
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