From WAIC 2026 to Canada: Building the Next Global AI Bridge
CAI Global × HFTC Initiative
WAIC 2026 Global AI Insights Dialogue
From WAIC to Canada: Building the Next Global AI Bridge
BACKGROUND
The 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) took place in Shanghai from July 17–20, 2026, under the theme “Intelligent Partners, Co-Create the Future.” WAIC 2026 highlighted Canada's contribution to global AI leadership, featuring Canadian AI researchers including Richard S. Sutton, Yoshua Bengio, and Gilles Brassard. This forum connects complementary ecosystems: Canada's strengths in foundational AI research and responsible AI, together with Asia's strengths in AI deployment, industrial application, and commercialization.
A global virtual roundtable connecting AI research, innovation, capital and ecosystems across Canada and Asia.
Featuring perspectives from AI researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem leaders connected with:
• Canadian AI ecosystem
• WAIC innovation ecosystem
• Harvard technology and policy communities
• Global AI entrepreneurship networks
AGENDA
Opening: Building the Next Global AI Bridge
Conversation 1:
Frontier AI Innovation: From Reinforcement Learning to AI Agents, Embodied Intelligence & AI for Science
Conversation 2:
Building the Canada–WAIC Trustworthy AI Innovation Corridor
ABOUT THE ORGANIZERS
CAI Global | Canada–Asia Council for AI and Digital Innovation — a global AI ecosystem platform connecting founders, institutions, investors, and ecosystem leaders across North America and Asia, focused on AI × Biotechnology, AI for Science, and AI governance.
HFTC | Harvard Frontier Techne Club — an interdisciplinary technology community based at Harvard Kennedy School, focused on artificial intelligence, frontier technologies, and future governance.
COMMUNITY AND SUPPORTING PARTNERS
Quakers Venture Club at Penn — Penn’s first officially recognized Chinese entrepreneurship and venture investment organization.
CDDJAP | Cyberport Draper Dragon Accelerator——connecting founders with cross-border commercialization and capital.
Agent Arena — provides B2B organizational solutions for strategy and organizational behavior in agent era.
AllScale — a self-custody neobank for microbusinesses, providing compliant stablecoin payments, global settlement, and programmable payment infrastructure for AI agents.
Siyuan AI Box — an AI-focused media and executive learning community originated from SJTU with 2,000+ participants and 80+ events.