The 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) officially opened in Shanghai on Friday with a grand inaugural ceremony. Among the distinguished guests attending the opening session was Professor Omar M. Yaghi, the world-renowned chemist and Nobel laureate, who listened to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s keynote address outlining China’s vision for the future of artificial intelligence.
Speaking to China Media Group (CMG) after the ceremony, Professor Yaghi shared his reflections on the conference, President Xi’s speech, and the transformative role AI is expected to play in scientific research and global development.
“I believe President Xi Jinping presented China’s clear and forward-looking vision for the development of artificial intelligence in a remarkably comprehensive and compelling way,” Yaghi said. “China is advancing at an unprecedented pace across virtually every sector, and AI is no exception. These achievements are prompting the world to think more deeply about the future evolution of artificial intelligence and its profound impact on scientific research, human progress, and global development.”
The Nobel laureate stressed that while AI holds enormous promise for humanity, it also presents significant challenges if misused.
“We must clearly recognize that artificial intelligence has the potential to bring extraordinary benefits to humankind, but it also carries serious risks if applied irresponsibly,” he said. “President Xi’s remarks offered a thoughtful framework for addressing this complex challenge by explaining how society can strike a balanced approach—one that safeguards scientific creativity and innovation while ensuring AI develops in a responsible and beneficial direction.”
Speaking about his own message at the global gathering, Professor Yaghi said the rapid advancement of AI makes it imperative for researchers across all disciplines to embrace the technology.
“My central message is that artificial intelligence is evolving at an extraordinary pace. Researchers in every branch of science and the humanities should actively welcome and integrate AI into their work. The more extensively we explore AI in scientific research, the more capable and sophisticated these digital models will become, enabling every scientific discipline to make even greater contributions to human civilization.”
Professor Yaghi also praised China’s remarkable progress in science and technology, particularly its growing pool of young researchers.
“China’s scientific and technological achievements over recent years have been truly remarkable and deserve global recognition,” he said. “The country produces more graduates in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics than any other nation. As a result, China has become a global leader across many advanced technologies and has already reached the forefront of numerous areas of artificial intelligence.”
He attributed China’s success to sustained long-term investment in scientific research and innovation.
“China’s achievements did not emerge overnight,” Yaghi said. “They are the result of consistent and substantial investment in science and research over many years. This long-term commitment has created an environment where scientists can freely pursue innovative ideas and transform research into real-world breakthroughs. It has also provided young researchers with exceptional opportunities and resources to realize their full potential. The rapid advances China has made in artificial intelligence stand as one of the strongest examples of the success of this sustained national strategy.”
Source: Xuewei, Touhid and Jinnia, China Media Group (CMG).