From the energy and water consumed by data centers, to the concentration of capital in the hands of a few, the governance gaps, to what it all means for jobs, education, and healthcare — Tech For Good Shanghai 2026 tackles the questions the industry too often skips.
On Thursday, June 11th, from 2pm to 9pm, French Tech Shanghai brings together over 400 entrepreneurs, investors, executives, researchers, and innovators at Shanghai Pudong Software Park for an afternoon of honest, practitioner-led conversation about AI and its real-world impact.
Free of charge. Open to all.
🎤 22 Speakers. 4 Expert Panels.
This year's programme takes one central question — how do we make AI work for us, not the other way around? — and works it through four angles that rarely share the same stage.
🌱 Panel 1 — Environment
AI and the planet: net positive or net negative?
Behind every model trained and every query processed, there is energy, water, and physical infrastructure. Can AI accelerate the green transition — or is it accelerating the pressure on resources it claims to solve?
Speakers:
- Valérie Salviac Sr. EVP, Chief Operation Officer · EDF
- Hu Jin Utility & Power Industry Director · AWS China
- Mike Hall Chief Product & Platform Officer · Akila
- Raman Chen CEO · CarbonEase
- Bruno Lhopiteau CEO · Bluebee
- Moderated by Jie Xiao , General Manager · New Energy Nexus China
💰 Panel 2 — Finance
Bubble or infrastructure? Who finances AI — and who captures the value?
Microsoft, Google, Amazon and Meta announced $300B+ in AI infrastructure capex for 2025 alone. Is this the next internet — or the next dot-com crash? And how do we ensure the benefits don't stay concentrated at the top?
Speakers:
- Pr. Mattia Landoni Associate Professor of Finance · CEIBS
- Jing Zhao Partner · Cathay Capital
- Louis Lian VP, Partnership & Strategy · Lightwheel
- Moderated by Shih-Hung Chen, Founder & co-CEO
⚖️ Panel 3 — Governance
Who writes the rules — and from whose perspective?
From corporate boardrooms to Chinese digital infrastructure in East Africa, the rules governing AI are being written right now — in parliaments, in contracts, and in code. Who is responsible when an AI system fails?
Speakers:
- Pr. Helena Rong Assistant Professor of Interactive Media & Business NYU Shanghai
- Rachel Huang Chief Growth Officer China and North Asia · L'Oréal
- Xavier Mussard Partner · Artefact
- Guillaume Mallet Sales & Partnerships Director · System in Motion
- Israel Mari Researcher · 上海外国语大学
- Moderated by Cathy Boinay French Tech Shanghai
🧠 Panel 4 — Human Intelligence
If machines can think and act, what is human intelligence worth?
Foundation models and robotics are simultaneously disrupting intellectual and manual work. The question is no longer whether it will happen but at what speed, in which sectors, and who can adapt. And can AI genuinely contribute to solving the world's biggest challenges?
Speakers:
- Pr. Guillaume Salha-Galvan Associate Professor · SPEIT (SJTU)
- Ted Lai Chief Digital Officer Greater China · Sanofi
- Jill Tang Founder & Community Co-Builder · SheWires
- Shuang Bai Founder & CEO · Leapility
- Heinrich Tremblay Founder & CEO · MadBrain
- Moderated by Vincent Delacourt Chief Information Officer · LVMH Fashion Group
🚀 Startup Pitch Battle
6 AI startups. 6 minutes each. One stage.
This year we're giving six AI startups the floor to present their innovations in front of 400 investors, executives and innovators. Not a side booth a real moment on stage, in front of decision-makers.
🎓 Student Exhibition
Students from UTSEUS and partner universities will present their AI research projects live — a glimpse of the next generation already building solutions to the challenges we are debating.
🍷 Evening Networking
From 7:00 to 9:00pm: networking, French food, and drinks. The kind of conversations that don't happen in panels.
📅 Practical Information
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👉 Register now — scan the QR code on the flyer
🤝 Our Partners & Sponsors
In partnership with: XNode, S-Tron and Shanghai Pudong Software Park
With the support of: L'Oréal China · Cathay Capital · EDF · Artefact · AlienGen · Akila · System in Motion · CarbonEase · Institut Français
With the participation of: UTSEUS and Magnolia
Organised by La French Tech Shanghai — the community of French and international tech entrepreneurs, investors and innovators in Shanghai.
See you on June 11th. 🐓