A series of research outcomes under the World Internet Conference (WIC) Think Tank Cooperation Program were released on April 14 at the AI for Better Life Forum and Digital Finance Forum during the 2026 WIC Asia-Pacific Summit.

At the AI for Better Life Forum, eight leading think tanks presented findings on topics including AI open-source ecosystems, AI-enabled social development, AI evaluation technologies, and AI safety and governance. The reports explore innovative AI applications in public services and its societal value, offering insights into how technological advances can be translated into tangible public benefit.

ModelScope released a report titled "Global Value and Practical Exploration of the AI Open Source Ecosystem: Unleashing the Flywheel Effect and Forging a 'Born Global' Consensus," highlighting that open-source communities have emerged as the premier arena for global AI technology diffusion, application incubation, and safety governance, and emphasizing their contribution to scaling technology for social good. 

Shi Hongzhu, head of ModelScope Community

The China Telecom Beijing Research Institute and China Telecom International Co., Ltd. jointly published a report titled "Cognitive Alignment · Scenario Deepening · Ecological Collaboration: The Core Paradigm and Path of Al Evaluation in the Future," noting that AI evaluation has been upgraded from a single technical verification tool to core infrastructure that influences global technological competition, industrial layout, and governance rules.  The report calls for expanding AI evaluation to public service sectors such as healthcare, government services, and transportation.

Lin Jianhui, deputy General Manager of Cloud Core Platform, Chinatelecom Global limited

Zhejiang Lab's Laboratory of Intelligent Society and Governance released a report titled "Evolution Trends, Multidimensional Impacts and Cooperative Governance Paths of the Global Intelligence Divide," proposing a collaborative governance framework through building open infrastructure to promote inclusive access, creating international public goods, fostering an open-source ecosystem, and improving multilateral coordination mechanisms. 

Dong Bo, director of the Center for Development Strategy and Cooperation at Zhejiang Lab

The Macao Association for Internet Research presented a report titled "From Data Perception to Intelligent Decision-Making: Research on Constructing a 'Smart Governance' Closed Loop System Based on Localized AI." The application of AI in public governance faces multiple challenges. In response, the report proposes a "Social Intelligence" solution and emphasizes the necessity of deeply integrating AI with human decision-making to enhance both the responsiveness and efficiency of government services.

Athena Seng, chairperson of Macao Association for Internet Research

Renmin University of China Law School released a report titled "Challenges and Responses of Generative Artificial Intelligence to the Governance of Online Information Content." This report systematically reviews how generative AI is reshaping the ecosystem of online information content. Focused on key issues such as the identification of AI-generated content, platform governance, and the allocation of responsibilities, it proposes recommendations for improving the law-based governance of AI-generated content.

Yang Dong, dean of Law School, Renmin University 

Wuhan University and Xinjiang University jointly released a report titled "Global Legislative Development in AI Governance: Experience and Prospects." This report compares legislative models from the US, EU, and China, highlighting future legislation on AI should improve  regulatory agility, foster international cooperation, and promote technological inclusion to build an inclusive and coordinated global governance system.

Sun Jin, professor at School of Law and director of Center for Competition Law and Policy, Wuhan University

Nankai University released a "Report on the Evaluation Indicator Framework of Digital-Intelligence Government Governance," developing an indicator framework covering Digital-Intelligence Social Governance, Digital-Intelligence Public Service Delivery, Institutional and Infrastructure Support, and Digital-Intelligence Public Participation. The framework provides a reference framework for countries to assess digital-intelligence governance capacity.

Wang Fang, director of Center for Cyber Society Governance Nankai University

The Center for International Communication Studies of Zhejiang University and Wuzhen Institute for Digital Civilization jointly published a report titled "Research on the Evolutionary Dynamics of the Global AI Divide and Pathways toward Inclusive Development." The report puts forward that the severe imbalance in benefit distribution is creating an "AI divide" more systemic than the traditional digital divide. It proposes that the solution lies in remaking AI into a shared "intelligent public good" to jointly build a new global intelligent order that is universal, equitable, and sustainable. 

Huang Liuqing, chief expert of Wuzhen Institute for Digital Civilization

At the Digital Finance Forum, two additional reports on data elements market development and cross-border data flow mechanisms were released, offering insights for advancing global digital finance.

China Unicom (Hong Kong) Innovation Research Institute released a report titled "Grasping the Global Wave of Data Elements Market Development--Practices and Prospects of Trusted Data Spaces". The report systematically reviews the development context and practical status of the global trusted data space industry, and explores the potential use of trusted data spaces in cross-border financial services. 

Chi Xingjun, deputy director of China Unicom (Hong Kong) Innovation Research Institute Limited

The Institute of Internet Governance and Law at Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications released a "Research Report on Cross-Border Data Flow Mechanism in the Asia-Pacific Region". This report analyzes the cross-border data flow mechanism in the Asia-Pacific region and its role in promoting trade growth, technological innovation and global governance. It examines how countries differ in governing cross-border data flows in finance and credit sectors.

Xie Yongjiang, director of the Institute of Internet Governance and Law at Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications

Launched at the 2024 WIC Wuzhen Summit, the Think Tank Cooperation Program brings together around 60 think tanks from WIC member institutions and leading global internet research organizations. Through joint research, dialogue, and report releases, the program aims to build a platform for academic exchange, intellectual dialogue, and international cooperation, contributing insights to advancing the development of the internet sector and bridging the digital divide.

Since its inception, the program has released more than 20 research outcomes at major WIC events, including the Asia-Pacific Summit, the Digital Silk Road Development Forum, and the Wuzhen Summit.