Innovation institute in Shanghai cultivates top-tier talents for artificial intelligence

People communicate at Shanghai Innovation Institute in Xuhui District of east China's Shanghai, July 9, 2026. The institute is working with 31 institutions of higher learning to cultivate top-tier talents for artificial intelligence (AI). It boasts over 80 full-time mentors now, and has enrolled more than 800 doctoral students in 45 majors. The mentors and their students are collaborating in cutting-edge areas such as contextual AI, cognitive AI, and embodied AI. (Xinhua/Chen Shuo)

Students study at Shanghai Innovation Institute in Xuhui District of east China's Shanghai, July 9, 2026. The institute is working with 31 institutions of higher learning to cultivate top-tier talents for artificial intelligence (AI). It boasts over 80 full-time mentors now, and has enrolled more than 800 doctoral students in 45 majors. The mentors and their students are collaborating in cutting-edge areas such as contextual AI, cognitive AI, and embodied AI. (Xinhua/Chen Shuo)

A humanoid robot prepares milk tea at Shanghai Innovation Institute in Xuhui District of east China's Shanghai, July 9, 2026. The institute is working with 31 institutions of higher learning to cultivate top-tier talents for artificial intelligence (AI). It boasts over 80 full-time mentors now, and has enrolled more than 800 doctoral students in 45 majors. The mentors and their students are collaborating in cutting-edge areas such as contextual AI, cognitive AI, and embodied AI. (Xinhua/Chen Shuo)

This photo taken on July 9, 2026 shows a view of Shanghai Innovation Institute in Xuhui District of east China's Shanghai. The institute is working with 31 institutions of higher learning to cultivate top-tier talents for artificial intelligence (AI). It boasts over 80 full-time mentors now, and has enrolled more than 800 doctoral students in 45 majors. The mentors and their students are collaborating in cutting-edge areas such as contextual AI, cognitive AI, and embodied AI. (Xinhua/Chen Shuo)

A student conducts an experiment at Shanghai Innovation Institute in Xuhui District of east China's Shanghai, July 9, 2026. The institute is working with 31 institutions of higher learning to cultivate top-tier talents for artificial intelligence (AI). It boasts over 80 full-time mentors now, and has enrolled more than 800 doctoral students in 45 majors. The mentors and their students are collaborating in cutting-edge areas such as contextual AI, cognitive AI, and embodied AI. (Xinhua/Chen Shuo)

A teacher communicates with students at Shanghai Innovation Institute in Xuhui District of east China's Shanghai, July 9, 2026. The institute is working with 31 institutions of higher learning to cultivate top-tier talents for artificial intelligence (AI). It boasts over 80 full-time mentors now, and has enrolled more than 800 doctoral students in 45 majors. The mentors and their students are collaborating in cutting-edge areas such as contextual AI, cognitive AI, and embodied AI. (Xinhua/Chen Shuo)

Humanoid robots awaiting adjustment are pictured at Shanghai Innovation Institute in Xuhui District of east China's Shanghai, July 9, 2026. The institute is working with 31 institutions of higher learning to cultivate top-tier talents for artificial intelligence (AI). It boasts over 80 full-time mentors now, and has enrolled more than 800 doctoral students in 45 majors. The mentors and their students are collaborating in cutting-edge areas such as contextual AI, cognitive AI, and embodied AI. (Xinhua/Chen Shuo)