Young people and AI discussed in Shanghai

Youth innovators and global collaboration are essential to the growth of artificial intelligence technology as well as its governance, experts and business leaders have told the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai.

At the Future Youth Science and Technology Forum hosted by Foundation for the Development of Science and Technology in China, representatives from around the world gathered to explore scientific responsibility and global collaboration among young people in the AI era.

Many agreed that as AI brings vast opportunities for human society, the younger generation is the most vigorous force driving this transformation.

"The future of AI lies with the youth. We need to nurture talent and discover new minds. Whoever has the most dynamic young talent will likely hold the key to the future," said Zhang Jing'an, chairman of the China Society for the Reform of the Science and Technology System.

Yu Hao, founder and CEO of Dreame Technology, said that young innovators could be pioneers in tackling key technological challenges, leaders in industrial upgrading, and shapers of new forms of the intelligent economy.

"Young scientists and entrepreneurs, with their dynamic minds and keen insights, should serve as a bridge connecting cutting-edge technology with industry needs, driving AI to better serve global sustainable development," he said.

A number of participants hailed China's achievements in AI innovation and spoke highly of the nation's youth AI innovators as open-minded, daring, devoted and focused with great potential.

Fabrizio Hochschild Drummond, former United Nations' under-secretary-general and senior advisor to the Global Youth Development Alliance, described China's tech progress as incredible. He said he was also impressed by the level of knowledge of AI issues among young people in China.

Wang Yu, professor from Department of Electronic Engineering at Tsinghua University, said what he found most distinctive about this generation of young people is their "openness and willingness to delve deeply into a single area and truly master it.

"They are good at using AI and enjoy exploring into diverse directions. They often think about how to express their unique qualities in a personalized way, and make the most of their strengths to activate social development. It's really meaningful," said Wang.

Jin Xianmin, chairman of Turing Quantum and professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, added that one of the most distinctive aspects of young people in China working with AI is that they "dare to imagine, explore and take action".

Among China's youth AI innovators is Han Qihao, a 27-year-old PhD candidate in optoelectronic engineering at the University of Oxford and president of the Chinese Students and Scholars Association UK. After eight years in a different country, he has gained a firsthand understanding of global youth collaboration in the AI sector.

"Our generation, as digital natives, could embrace AI more readily. Cultural and policy differences between nations also broaden our minds," he said.

Maurice Chong, 24, from the United States, has been working with young people from both China and the US in the AI sector. Founding KNQ Technology and serving as director of the US-China Youth and Student Exchange Association, Chong had introduced China's AI advances to over 2,000 teenagers in the US over the past four years.

"It has become a consensus that Chinese and American youth must work together for a better future of AI," Chong said.

"The two nations have their own strengths and weakness, and I think we need to deepen cooperation, build friendship and move forward hand in hand."