Notes: The article was written by Neha Mehta.
The Inclusion Conference on the Bund in Shanghai buzzed with electric energy. While the skyline glittered in the distance, the exhibition halls became grounds for whirring robots, glowing AI interfaces, and insightful conversations about the future tech in finance, healthcare, and robotics, transporting attendees to 2030.
It was a global technology summit held at the Shanghai Huangpu World Expo Park that invited entrepreneurs and global leaders to explore the future of financial innovation in the era of AI, present the innovation ecosystem’s best practices, and discuss how finance and technology could be the drivers of inclusive growth.
The conference, now in its fourth year, has become a global platform for technology and robotics innovation and Shanghai was the ideal host for it. As a hub for AI innovation and research development, the city hosted over 40 Insight Forums, a Global Thematic Day, 10+ Stages, a Technology Exhibition and Marketplace, an AI Innovation Contest, a Technology Job Fair, and an Investor Meetup at the conference.
What impressed me most, beyond the scale, was the spirit of inclusivity. The exhibition opened doors for families, students and curious visitors, offering the next generation a first hand glimpse into the future and the “Path to Innovative Growth”. It also showed how companies are pursuing innovations that are already changing people’s lives. I witnessed innovations that made healthcare easier and payments seamless. Among the many highlights, these product launches stood out to me the most.
AI Healthcare for All
For me, one of the most notable launches was Ant Group’s AI-powered healthcare app, AQ. Building on its initial services, the group aims to make healthcare more accessible and inclusive. Since the official launch in June 2025, AQ has amassed over 140 million users, with 60% from tier-three and lower-tier cities, underscoring its success in driving inclusiveness.
From AI Doctor Agents that analyze medical reports in seconds to integrations with 5,000+ hospitals and thousands of doctors, AQ positions itself as a lifeline for underserved communities. I realized how powerful AQ could be when I saw how easily it connected medical experts with everyday users, especially in smaller cities.
Alibaba’s DAMO Academy is also showcasing its advanced AI medical imaging technology, designed to detect diseases using routine CT scans. Remarkably, each screening is priced at just 100 yuan, roughly equivalent to 20 Singapore dollars, and is eligible for coverage under the national health insurance scheme.
These made me think about how transformative this could be for people in small towns, where healthcare access is still a struggle.
Robotics With Purpose
The conference boasts a dedicated “robot town,” where humanoid robots box, play football, mix cocktails, and even rescue baby dolls from simulated ruins. A fleet of robotics startups showcased their innovations in parts and hardware. Companies like Ti5, for instance, specialize in creating dexterous hands, lightweight joints, and chassis for robotic bodies.
There are also companies focused on the “brains” of robots, such as Robbyant, which distinguishes itself through advances at the model layer. Powered by a large model dedicated for embodied AI, the Robbyant R1 enables sophisticated, end-to-end planning for complex, long-horizon tasks. Watching the R1 glide across the room and serve food before my eyes was surreal.
Each robot was designed for a distinct purpose; it felt as though the future itself had stepped down from the stage and entered daily life.
Insight Forums: Guardrails and Visions
The conference’s insight forums proved as engaging as the product showcases. While I expected abstract talks, The Vision 2030: Payments, Technology, and the Future of Living forum on Thursday gave me a vivid picture of the future. The panelists discussed the evolution of payments, noting that they will no longer be centered on just speed and security but will be ambient, seamlessly integrated into wearables, gadgets, and daily routines without being intrusive. Services like Alipay’s Model Context Protocol (MCP) server, which enables merchants and AI developers to access Alipay’s payment systems through natural language, represent the new infrastructure supporting this transformation.
The most unforgettable experience for me was to have a look through the Rokid AR glasses which were created in collaboration with Alipay. By just a glance and a voice command, I was able to make a payment without the need of my hands, phone or wallet. The security was definitely not compromised; it depended on the one-of-a-kind voiceprint recognition which converted my voice into a user identifier, similar to today’s fingerprint or face ID.
In that moment the future was brought into the present. Alipay is collaborating with several AR firms to develop an AI-enabled, voice-activated payment system that would set the pace for the future.
My Key Takeaways
- Inclusion as Strategy, Not Charity – AQ isn’t just scaling healthcare; it’s democratizing it, with adoption strongest in smaller cities.
- AI With Agency – Whether in healthcare, payments, or robotics, the trend is to empower AI agents that think and act in context.
- Robotics as Infrastructure – robots as part of everyday service economies, not just factory floors.
- The Future is Hands-Free – My AR glasses demo revealed a world where payments become frictionless, voice-driven, and invisible.
I saw first-hand how Shanghai is cementing its position as China’s innovation hub, especially in the areas of Fintech and AI. At the conference, Shanghai’s Deputy Mayor announced new policies to optimize the fintech ecosystem in the city, and pledges a faster integration of research institutions with enterprises, besides stepping up the AI infrastructure deployment. The city has also ranked among the top global fintech centers, for instance, in the Global Fintech Centers Index Shanghai ranks third, just under New York and London. Furthermore, in 2024 the city’s government announced a funding of over 100 billion yuan (approx. USD 13.8 billion) towards innovation in sectors like AI, integrated circuits, biomedicine and robotics, underlining Shanghai’s strategy to support frontier technologies and fostering local innovation.
Inclusion 2025 was not just about product innovations. The conference depicted a future where technology improves health, machines assist people, and payments are seamlessly integrated into everyday life. Moreover, walking out of the conference I felt the future was not just discussed in Shanghai, but unfolded right in front of me.
Author Profile
Neha Mehta is the founder of FemTech Partners and author of One Stop, bestselling author of One Stop Penguin, a sharp and timely exploration of the rise of super apps — from Alipay to WeChat — and their transformative impact on finance, commerce, and daily life.
Neha is a leading voice in fintech and digital policy, working at the intersection of fintech, policy, and inclusion. With a focus on empowering underserved communities through technology, she advises global institutions on digital transformation. Neha also serves as an adjunct professor at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Singapore Management University (SMU), where she teaches on climate, fintech and innovation.
