Article by Neha Mehta.
The Inclusion Conference held at the Bund in Shanghai radiated an atmosphere charged with innovation and anticipation. Against the backdrop of the city’s dazzling skyline, the event’s exhibition spaces buzzed with cutting-edge robotics, luminous AI displays, and dynamic discussions centered on the future of technology in finance and healthcare. Attendees were immersed in a vision of 2030.
Hosted at the Shanghai Huangpu World Expo Park, this international technology summit gathered entrepreneurs and industry leaders worldwide to delve into the next wave of financial innovation powered by artificial intelligence. The conference also highlighted exemplary innovation ecosystems and explored how the synergy between finance and technology can fuel inclusive economic progress.
Shanghai: A Global Nexus for AI and Innovation
Now in its fourth iteration, the conference has evolved into a premier global platform for showcasing advancements in technology and robotics. Shanghai’s role as host was fitting, given its status as a vibrant hub for AI research and development. The event featured over 40 Insight Forums, a Global Thematic Day, and more than ten stages dedicated to various tech topics. Additionally, an AI Innovation Contest and a Technology Career Fair were held, underscoring the city’s commitment to fostering talent and innovation.
What stood out most was the event’s inclusive approach. The exhibition welcomed families, students, and curious visitors alike, offering the younger generation a glimpse into the “Path to Innovative Growth.” It demonstrated how emerging technologies are already reshaping everyday life, particularly through innovations that simplify payments and enhance healthcare services. These product unveilings were among the event’s highlights.
Revolutionizing Healthcare Accessibility with AI
A standout innovation was Ant Group’s AI-driven healthcare application, Q. Building upon its foundational services, Ant Group aims to make healthcare more accessible and equitable. Since its launch in June 2025, Q has amassed over 140 million users, with a remarkable 60% hailing from tier-three and lower-tier cities-underscoring the app’s success in bridging healthcare gaps in underserved regions.
Powered by AI Doctor Agents capable of analyzing medical reports within seconds, Q integrates with more than 5,000 hospitals and thousands of medical professionals. This connectivity serves as a vital resource for communities with limited healthcare access, particularly in smaller urban and rural areas.
Alibaba’s DAMO Academy also showcased its pioneering AI medical imaging technology, designed to detect diseases through routine CT scans. Each screening is priced at just 100 yuan (approximately 20 Singapore dollars) and is covered by the national health insurance program, making advanced diagnostics affordable and accessible.
This technology holds transformative potential for remote towns where medical resources remain scarce, promising earlier detection and improved health outcomes.
Purpose-Driven Robotics: Integrating Machines into Daily Life
The conference featured an immersive “robot city” where humanoid robots engaged in activities such as boxing, playing soccer, mixing cocktails, and even rescuing baby dolls from simulated disaster zones. Numerous robotics startups presented innovations in components and hardware. For instance, Ti5 specializes in lightweight robotic joints, dexterous hands, and chassis design.
On the software front, companies like Robbyant focus on the cognitive capabilities of robots. Their flagship model, the Robbyant R1, utilizes a sophisticated embodied AI system enabling it to execute complex, long-term tasks autonomously. Witnessing the R1 navigate the space and serve refreshments was a glimpse into a future where robots seamlessly assist in everyday environments.
Each robot was engineered with a distinct function, illustrating how robotics are poised to become integral to service industries beyond traditional manufacturing settings.
Insight Forums: Shaping the Future of Payments and Technology
Complementing the product demonstrations, the Insight Forums offered deep dives into emerging trends. The “Vision 2030: Technology, Payments, and the Future of Living” panel painted a vivid picture of how payment systems will evolve. Experts predicted a shift away from prioritizing speed and security alone, toward payments becoming ambient-embedded seamlessly into devices, wearables, and daily routines.
A key innovation supporting this shift is Alipay’s Model Context Protocol server, which enables merchants and AI developers to access payment systems through natural language interfaces, facilitating more intuitive and integrated transactions.
A personal highlight was experiencing the Rokid AR Glasses, developed in partnership with Alipay. With a simple glance and voice command, I completed a payment without needing a wallet, phone, or physical interaction. Security was maintained through unique voiceprint recognition, functioning similarly to biometric identifiers like facial or fingerprint scans.
This collaboration between Alipay and AR technology companies is setting a new standard for voice-activated, AI-powered payment systems, heralding a hands-free future.
Essential Insights from Inclusion 2025
- Healthcare as a Strategic Priority: Applications like Q demonstrate that scaling healthcare access is not charity but a strategic imperative, with adoption strongest in smaller cities.
- Empowered AI Agents: Across sectors-healthcare, payments, robotics-there is a clear trend toward AI systems capable of contextual understanding and autonomous decision-making.
- Robotics Embedded in Daily Services: Robots are transitioning from factory floors to everyday service roles, enhancing convenience and efficiency.
- Seamless, Hands-Free Interactions: Technologies like AR glasses reveal a future where payments and interactions are frictionless, voice-driven, and virtually invisible.
Shanghai is solidifying its position as China’s innovation powerhouse, particularly in fintech and AI. At the conference, the city’s Deputy Mayor announced new initiatives to enhance the fintech ecosystem, including accelerating collaboration between research institutions and enterprises and expanding AI infrastructure. Shanghai currently ranks third in the Global Fintech Centers Index, trailing only New York and London.
In 2024, the municipal government committed over 100 billion yuan (approximately US $13.8 billion) to advance innovation in AI, integrated circuits, and biomedicine. This substantial investment reflects Shanghai’s strategic focus on nurturing homegrown innovation and supporting cutting-edge technologies.
Inclusion 2025 was more than a showcase of new products; it was a vivid demonstration of a future where technology enhances health, empowers machines to assist humans, and integrates payments effortlessly into everyday life. The future was not just envisioned in Shanghai-it was unfolding before my eyes.
About the Author
Neha Mehta is the founder of FemTech Partners and the bestselling author of One Stop Penguin. She offers incisive analysis on the rise of super-apps like Alipay and WeChat and their transformative impact on finance, commerce, and daily living.
As a prominent voice in digital policy and fintech, Neha operates at the intersection of technology and inclusion, advising global organizations on digital transformation strategies that empower underserved communities. She also serves as an adjunct professor at Nanyang Technological University and Singapore Management University, where she teaches courses on climate, fintech, and innovation.
