Shanghai is positioning itself to enhance its international influence in the artificial intelligence sector, aiming to solidify its status as a leading megacity for AI development.

In a notable initiative, StepFun, a Shanghai-based AI startup, plans to open-source two multimodal large models, including a video generation model and a voice interaction model, in partnership with Geely Auto Group.

During the 2025 Global Developer Conference, Chen Jie, the vice-mayor of Shanghai, emphasized the city's supportive policies for innovation and the establishment of a high-end industrial cluster.

The WAIC has become a pivotal platform for AI collaboration, with the 2024 event drawing over 35,600 offline participants and 32 million online developers.

Artificial intelligence is projected to remain one of Shanghai's leading industries, with a market scale anticipated to surpass 450 billion yuan, equivalent to approximately $62 billion, in 2024.

Recent advancements in open-source large model technology have been credited to developers, creating new opportunities for China's AI sector, as noted by industry expert Xiong.

The conference, themed 'AI shaping the world, unlocking infinite opportunities,' is taking place from February 21 to February 23, 2025, and emphasizes collaboration among global developers.

This year's conference features various events designed to promote AI commercialization and collaboration, focusing on key technologies such as large models and software platforms.

Shanghai has made significant strides in the AI sector, boasting a market scale exceeding 450 billion yuan and achieving milestones such as seven consecutive years of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) and the filing of 60 large models.

Andrew Aitken from the Linux Foundation praised Shanghai's substantial investments and government backing for AI initiatives, underscoring the city's leadership role in the industry.

Xiong Jijun, vice-minister of industry and information technology, highlighted the crucial role of developers in advancing AI technology and acknowledged China's strong position in global open-source involvement.

Chinese startup DeepSeek has made a significant impact with its open-source language models, encouraging others in the global AI community to adopt similar practices.