Artificial intelligence is moving rapidly from experimental technology to real-world applications, as industry leaders showcased new AI-powered solutions for cities, businesses and consumers at the 25th China Internet Conference in Beijing.

Held from July 8 to 10, the conference highlighted how AI agents, large language models and digital twin technologies are being integrated into sectors ranging from urban governance and industrial manufacturing to retail and public services.

Speaking via video at the opening ceremony, Wu Hequan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said AI-native technologies are reshaping the internet itself. 

While large language models excel at general reasoning, AI agents are designed to execute specific tasks and future digital ecosystems will increasingly rely on collaboration among multiple intelligent agents rather than isolated AI systems.

According to Wu, AI-generated traffic is expected to account for around 60% of global internet traffic by 2030, with AI agent services becoming the dominant source of token-based interactions. The shift, he said, will require internet infrastructure to evolve toward higher bandwidth, lower latency and stronger computing capabilities.

The conference also demonstrated how AI is being deployed in practical scenarios. Digital assistants are supporting office collaboration and customer services, while AI-powered inspection systems are improving industrial operations. Digital twin technologies are enabling more efficient traffic management, energy optimization and building maintenance, providing city managers with real-time visualization and decision-making tools.

Industry representatives also emphasized that AI innovation is creating measurable economic value. 

At the conference, Kuaishou said its AI-powered video generation model and digital human live-streaming platform have helped small and medium-sized businesses increase daily gross merchandise value while significantly reducing marketing costs. Alibaba's Taobao Instant Commerce platform reported that AI agents are increasingly handling complex shopping requests, moving beyond traditional keyword-based searches to task-oriented consumer services.

Beyond applications, participants identified trustworthy AI and green computing as key priorities for the industry's next stage of development. The launch of the FlagOS Initiative, an open AI software platform designed to improve compatibility across different computing chips, reflects broader efforts to build more efficient and sustainable AI infrastructure.

As AI technologies continue to mature, industry experts believe the focus is shifting from developing models to deploying them at scale. The conference highlighted China's efforts to accelerate AI adoption across the real economy, with intelligent applications increasingly becoming part of everyday life while supporting digital transformation and high-quality economic development.