AI News Weekly - July 7, 2026
Shanghai launches WAIC 2026 preparations
The 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance will be held in Shanghai from July 17 to 20. Today at 10:00 AM, the Shanghai Municipal Government held a press conference to announce the latest preparations.
This year’s conference brings together global AI leaders, policymakers, and industry experts to discuss the future of AI governance and development. The event will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions, and exhibitions showcasing cutting-edge AI technologies.
Samsung’s quarterly profit jumps 19x on AI memory demand
Samsung Electronics reported preliminary operating profit of 89.4 trillion won (about $58 billion) for the quarter ending June, Bloomberg reported on July 7. This figure exceeds its full-year 2025 performance and beats market expectations.
Analysts point out that high-end memory chips needed for AI data centers will remain in short supply until at least the end of 2027. DRAM average prices rose more than 40% quarter-over-quarter, and NAND flash prices jumped over 50%.
The surge in AI-driven demand is reshaping the semiconductor industry’s pricing power. Samsung’s profit jump reflects this broader trend.
Wenzhou launches China Shoe Capital E-commerce Conference with AI+design competition
The 2026 China Shoe Capital E-commerce Conference runs from July 7 to 15 in Wenzhou. The event introduces three high-level industrial projects and launches an AI+creative design competition, creating a complete ecosystem from R&D and e-commerce channels to talent cultivation.
The design competition invites participants to use AI tools for creative product development, bridging traditional footwear manufacturing with modern AI capabilities.