The World AI Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai is set to have Elon Musk as a keynote speaker on Thursday, according to the event agenda. It remains unclear whether Musk will attend in person or via video, but sources suggest he will not be there physically. The WAIC organizers have not yet confirmed Musk’s attendance or keynote.
Musk has previously participated in the WAIC, providing video messages for previous editions and attending in person in 2019. Other notable speakers scheduled for the opening ceremony include Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who is expected to deliver a speech. Li and Musk met in Beijing in April to discuss Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software and data-transfer permissions.
The EU’s announcement of preliminary tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports coincides with Musk’s speech at WAIC. Tesla, the leading exporter of EVs from China to Europe, has requested a separate duty rate to be calculated for the company. Currently, Tesla faces a 21% additional tariff as part of companies cooperating with the investigation. Tesla has not responded to requests for comment on the EU’s tariffs.
