The conference has seen enthusiastic participation in crowded forums, where attendees are actively discussing the practical impacts of AI across various sectors.

A recent report indicated that nearly 90 percent of Chinese companies are now adopting open-source technologies, marking a significant shift in the technological landscape.

The conference underscores the transformative potential of open-source initiatives in AI development, with experts predicting they will shape future innovations and foster international collaboration.

The 2025 Global Developer Conference (GDC) kicked off today in Shanghai, running from February 22 to 24, and focusing on open-source large-model technologies and their applications in the AI industry.

Organized by the Shanghai AI Industry Association, the conference features participation from around 100 developer communities worldwide and will continue until February 23.

Experts at the conference emphasized that embracing open-source technologies could lead to significant breakthroughs and commercial success, establishing a new productive force in AI.

As Shanghai's leading AI developer event, GDC showcases the city's ambition to become a global AI hub, supported by various strategic projects and partnerships.

A standout demonstration at the conference featured a humanoid robot from Unitree Robotics, which captivated audiences with a performance alongside a robot dog.

Alibaba Cloud announced the launch of two new open-source multimodal models on its ModelScope platform, which now boasts over 10 million active developers, making it China's largest AI model community.

The rise of advanced AI models like DeepSeek has spurred greater engagement among Chinese firms in global developer communities, according to Tsinghua University professor Shen Xiangyang.

Industry research forecasts that China's AI market will reach approximately 811 billion yuan (around US$111.8 billion) by 2028, with substantial growth expected in the AI and robotics sectors.

Xiong Jijun, vice minister of industry and information technology, highlighted the rapid advancement of AI in China, fueled by open-source technologies and a robust developer ecosystem.