At this year’s World AI Conference in Shanghai, visitors couldn’t miss the wave of Nantong ingenuity sweeping through the exhibition halls. Among clean-tech giants and cutting-edge innovators, several Nantong companies showcased their “hard-core” credentials in environmental protection and robotics.

Robots stole the show: one AI-driven firm unveiled a pair of moxibustion and massage robots, marrying centuries-old Chinese medicine with modern automation. Attendees lined up to experience intelligent heat therapy, marveling at how digital precision can enhance traditional healing practices.

Elsewhere, another Nantong team introduced China’s first AI model dedicated to wastewater management. Built on more than two decades of industrial treatment expertise, a trillion-entry water knowledge graph, and extensive real-world data, this end-to-end system handles everything from intelligent Q&A and solution generation to decision-making optimization—directly addressing knowledge gaps and high-risk decisions.

Nantong’s presence at the conference underscored the city’s commitment to integrating AI with heavy industry. From steel mills and shipyards to textile plants, the region is turning artificial intelligence into real-world muscle—proving that “smart manufacturing” is far more than just a buzzword.