Shanghai positions itself as a global laboratory for AI in services

Mohamed Kande, global chairman of PwC, pointed to the city’s deep integration with the Yangtze River Delta and its mature service sector as primary assets. He urged the city to bridge the gap between research, capital, and international providers to solve tangible economic challenges. Sir Martin Sorrell, founder of S4 Capital, described the city as a critical site for shaping global AI governance, noting that the technology is shifting from a simple efficiency tool to a fundamental restructurer of value chains.

To capitalize on this, local leaders were advised to align with international standards and facilitate freer data flow. Zhang Lei of Hillhouse Investment emphasized the necessity of moving beyond theory toward practical deployment, suggesting the city cultivate specialized engineers capable of bridging the divide between AI development and industrial application. Meanwhile, Gary S. Guthart of Intuitive Surgical highlighted the potential for a 'Shanghai model' in medical data, specifically through pioneering secure sharing protocols for robot-assisted surgery. Jean-Paul Agon of L'Oreal added that the city’s next phase of growth depends on refining its ecosystem to better link online and offline consumer experiences, ultimately setting a blueprint for global innovation.