The 2026 World Digital Education Conference, themed "AI + Education: Transformation, Development and Governance," was held in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, from May 11 to 13.

The conference explored how artificial intelligence (AI) can reshape education systems and support high-quality educational development. An exhibition highlighting global achievements in digital education was also held during the event.

More than 850 guests from 65 countries and regions attended the conference, including over 500 international participants, making this year's gathering the largest and most internationally engaged edition to date.

Speaking at the conference, Yang Dan, head of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges at China's Ministry of Education, said the event reflected growing global interest in AI-driven education cooperation.

"Compared with previous editions, this year's conference saw a significant increase in both international participation and global influence," Yang said, "During the conference, China reached intergovernmental agreements on AI cooperation in education with countries including Uzbekistan and Brazil. AI-related collaboration has also become an important focus of partnerships between universities, industries and schools."

According to UNESCO, the world will face a staggering shortfall of approximately 44 million teachers by 2030. While AI presents a powerful solution to bridge this gap, global leaders emphasized the critical importance of ethical safeguards.

"We must focus on the ethical safety of AI usage to prevent any harm to education," urged Khaled El-Enany, Director-General of UNESCO. "We look forward to deepening educational cooperation with China, ensuring that technological advancements in education are advanced in a manner that is ethical, inclusive and equitable."

Showcasing multiple possibilities for future classrooms

During the conference, a global AI education service platform was launched, aiming to promote sharing of high-quality educational resources across borders and further integrate AI into education.

The launch comes as part of a broader upgrade to the Smart Education of China, a digital education platform now accessible in around 220 countries and regions. The upgraded platform expands its international services with new features, including a lifelong learning hub and a Chinese language learning community.

An initiative on AI education was also unveiled at the event, calling for better use of AI to support inclusive and sustainable human development. It also urged stronger efforts to bridge the global digital divide by making better use of smart education platforms to share high-quality resources and digital tools. 

(With input from Xinhua)