Opening Remarks | From Technological Carnival to the Deep Waters of Value | 2026 AI Partner · Beijing Yizhuang AI+ Industry Conference

The Maturation of the AI Narrative: From Disruption to Integration

The core message of Feng Dagang’s address marks a definitive evolution in the understanding of AI’s role. The narrative is moving past the “technological carnival” phase, where the focus was on AI’s standalone disruptive power. Instead, we are entering the “value deep water zone,” where the real challenge and opportunity lie in integrating AI into the complex fabric of established industries. This perspective corrects a common misconception: the goal is not for every company to become an “AI company,” but for every company to become a company strengthened by AI. The emphasis shifts from evaluating AI’s performance in isolation to measuring its tangible impact on business outcomes, cost reduction, and operational efficiency.

Re-evaluating Business Frameworks in the AI Era

The analysis of Alibaba serves as a powerful case study to debunk a flawed evaluation framework. Feng Dagang argues that judging Alibaba merely on its pure AI model capabilities misses the point. Its true strength—and its ultimate moat—lies in its decades of accumulated scenario advantages, proprietary data (e-commerce, finance, logistics), and a comprehensive digital ecosystem (Alibaba Cloud, Alipay, Cainiao). For most industries, this is the critical lesson:

• AI is not a disruptor that replaces existing business models, but a powerful catalyst that enhances them.
• The most valuable asset is not AI expertise alone, but “scenario-end experts who know how to use AI.” This combination of deep domain knowledge and AI application skill represents the biggest talent gap in the market.
• Therefore, companies should focus on leveraging their core strengths and assets, using AI to solve previously intractable problems—to do what was once “too manpower-intensive, impossible, or too costly.”

The Pragmatics of AI Adoption: “Taking AI to the Frontline”

The conference theme, “Bring AI to the Frontline,” underscores a push for pragmatism and direct action. This signifies a move away from abstract discussions about future possibilities. The “frontline” is the specific industry scene, the production floor, or the service workflow where value must be created. This approach addresses the widespread anxiety surrounding AI by reframing it as a tool for augmentation, not replacement. AI’s value is realized when it helps people and industries “do more” and “do better,” not by eliminating human roles. The ultimate goal is to transform AI from a concept one can imagine into a capability one can experience.

The Ecosystem for Real-World Implementation: The Role of Yizhuang

The choice of Beijing’s Yizhuang (Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area) as the venue is highly symbolic and deliberate. Feng Dagang highlights it as a microcosm of the ideal environment for AI implementation:

• Industrial Completeness: It hosts a full value chain, from R&D to manufacturing and shipment, with giants like JD.com, BOE, Xiaomi Auto, and robotics firms.
• A Results-Oriented Culture: The ecosystem is characterized by a direct, pragmatic mindset focused on “showing results.” This contrasts with innovation hubs that may prioritize theoretical exploration.
• Proven Track Record: The observation that AI deployment succeeds best where manufacturing is dense, supply chains are integrated, and both workers and investors are committed, points to a key insight for China’s AI strategy: successful industrial AI is often grassroots and driven by practical needs, not just top-down R&D.

36Kr’s Evolving Role and the New Conference Model

The document outlines 36Kr’s own transformation from an observer to a catalyst in the AI ecosystem. This shift mirrors the industry’s maturation. The conference itself is redesigned to reflect this new purpose:

• Content Focus: All sessions are dedicated to case studies of implementation—speakers will discuss specific industries, scenarios, costs, timelines, and outcomes. There is no room for vague futurism.
• Structural Innovation: The introduction of the “matchmaking conference” (World Café AI+ Industry Docking) is a critical innovation. It physically brings together demand-side companies (with concrete business problems) and supply-side tech providers, creating a structured marketplace for solutions. This addresses a clear market inefficiency where these two groups struggle to connect.
• A Deeper Meaning: This model reveals that the barrier to AI adoption is often not the lack of technology, but a lack of trust, understanding, and structured channels for collaboration. 36Kr is positioning itself as the essential intermediary—the “Partner”—that facilitates this crucial collision between technological innovation and industrial need, thereby helping to translate AI’s potential into everyday business reality.