AI-Driven Entrepreneurship And Embodied Intelligence Take Centre Stage At Beijing Digital Economy Conference
Artificial intelligence is transforming business models and industrial applications as AI-driven entrepreneurship and embodied intelligence emerge among the defining themes of the 2026 Global Digital Economy Conference in Beijing. The event highlights the rapid pace of innovation while showcasing how AI is reshaping industries, entrepreneurship and manufacturing.
Running from Thursday to Sunday, the conference has attracted nearly 40 high-level industry delegations and more than 1,000 distinguished guests from around the world. The gathering supports Beijing’s wider ambition to become a global benchmark city for the digital economy and a leading international hub for artificial intelligence.
AI Innovation Drives Entrepreneurship
Alongside the main conference, the Digital Economy Industry Expo provides a platform for exhibitors and visitors to exchange ideas through technology displays and interactive demonstrations. The expo also aims to accelerate the implementation and commercialisation of new technological achievements.
A key attraction is the dedicated one-person company (OPC) zone, where entrepreneurs from across China are presenting their projects and engaging with industry professionals. The exhibition demonstrates how AI tools are enabling individuals to develop businesses with fewer resources while expanding creative possibilities.
Kong Shengbo, representing an OPC student startup project, said artificial intelligence has fundamentally changed how individuals can create and operate businesses.
“People can now fully unlock their creative potential with the support of creative AI tools. This is the new opportunity AI brings to us. With an integrated matrix of AI, self-media channels and intellectual property, a single individual can build a complete production system,” he said.
Embodied Intelligence Powers Industrial Robots
Beyond entrepreneurial innovation, the expo also showcases a new generation of industrial robots, reflecting another major focus of this year’s digital economy event.
Among the featured technologies is an automated welding robot that scans target welding areas using an automatic positioner. The system then generates precise welding trajectories before carrying out the required tasks. During operation, it records and stores all generated data for future development and training of industrial robots.
The exhibit demonstrates how artificial intelligence is improving industrial automation through greater precision, efficiency and continuous learning.
High-Quality Data Remains Essential
Industry experts say the progress of intelligent robots depends heavily on embodied intelligence, which requires large volumes of high-quality and diverse data for effective training.
Yang Haibo, co-founder of Guanglun Intelligence, said physically realistic simulations play a critical role in developing and evaluating embodied intelligence systems. According to him, these technologies will help extend intelligent robotics into households and industries while supporting the intelligent transformation of traditional sectors through improved quality and greater efficiency.
The conference continues to highlight the growing role of artificial intelligence in entrepreneurship, manufacturing and industrial innovation as organisations explore new opportunities across the digital economy.
With inputs from Reuters
