Beyond expo floor, AI opens new frontiers in China

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This photo taken on Sept. 17, 2026 shows a view of the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center, the venue for the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo, in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]

Wei Qiaomei, a Chinese livestreamer, once struggled to grasp what her Thai customers wanted, though she speaks fluent Thai.

Once, ahead of her pitch for a portable fan, AI analyzed Thai e-commerce data and popped up two selling points for her: quiet motors and long battery life.

The trial has proven rewarding. Her employer, based in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, reported a 300 percent sales jump.

"Speaking the language isn't the same as understanding the market," said the 23-year-old, noting that AI had transformed her from a mere translator into a market-savvy presenter.