What Top Tech Leaders Revealed About AI, 5G, and the Future of the Internet

Ma Huateng: Embrace a Owner‑Mindset in the Internet’s Deep‑Water Zone

Ma Huateng, chairman and CEO of Tencent, warned that the internet has entered a deep‑water, even uncharted, stage where platform companies must act like owners, leading others to solve emerging problems.

He highlighted the massive opportunities of digitalization, noting 5G trials in Wuzhen with download speeds up to 1.7 GB/s and the potential for VR‑enabled WeChat.

Ma emphasized China’s 800 million‑plus internet users, the surge of O2O innovation, and the need to address challenges such as network security, digital divide, user privacy, youth protection, and AI ethics.

Shen Xiangyang: AI Will Shape the Future

Microsoft Global VP Shen Xiangyang stressed humanity’s unique ability to create technology and predicted that artificial intelligence will become a cornerstone of future society, driving breakthroughs in healthcare, transportation, and more.

He warned of ethical and legal impacts, citing Microsoft’s responsible AI principles and ongoing research to mitigate bias.

Shen Nanpeng: The Internet’s Second Half Will Empower Traditional Industries

Sequoia Capital’s global managing partner Shen Nanpeng described the internet’s evolution as two halves: the first “Internet+” phase and the upcoming “+Internet” phase where traditional sectors adopt internet, big data, and AI to enhance services.

He cited examples such as hospitals using internet platforms for drug research and AI‑assisted diagnostics.

Lei Jun: AI Is the Key to the Future

Xiaomi founder Lei Jun reflected on Xiaomi’s rapid growth, noting the importance of battery technology and asserting that mastering artificial intelligence will determine future success.

Steve Mollenkopf: Mobile Technology Drives Internet Growth

Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf argued that mobile technology is the primary engine of the internet’s expansion, enabling new industries, business models, and broader access to education and employment.

Zhou Hongyi: Core Technology Must Be Self‑Developed

360 founder Zhou Hongyi emphasized that core technology, especially cybersecurity, cannot rely on purchases; autonomous R&D is essential for national and corporate resilience.

He described the “security brain” concept applied across IoT, automotive, and community safety.

Sun Pishu: New‑Era Internet Enterprises Will Emerge

Inspur CEO Sun Pishu warned that the next decade will see the rise of new‑type internet companies built on new connections, ecosystems, and operators, spanning consumer, business, and government (2C, 2B, 2G) domains.

He highlighted the role of cheap, ubiquitous computing—cloud, big data, blockchain, and AI—in driving this transformation.

Jing Xiandong: Blockchain Rebuilds Trust

Ant Group CEO Jing Xiandong explained that blockchain’s greatest value lies in reconstructing trust, improving supply‑chain financing for SMEs, and reducing risk for financial institutions.

Eugene Kaspersky: From Cybersecurity to Network Immunity

Kaspersky Lab founder Eugene Kaspersky presented the concept of “network immunity,” aiming to protect IoT and industrial environments through secure micro‑kernel architectures and isolation modules.

He noted that daily 300 000 new malware samples are collected, underscoring the urgency of evolving security approaches.