On the morning of July 14, the opening ceremony for the 2026 National Primary and Secondary School Artificial Intelligence Inquiry-Based Learning Camp (Beijing) was held with great fanfare at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. One hundred twenty primary and secondary school students from across the country, selected through written exams and interviews, gathered in Beijing with a passion for exploring artificial intelligence. Under the watchful eyes of university experts and distinguished secondary school teachers, they embarked on a seven-day journey of in-depth exploration into artificial intelligence. The event brought together top-tier academic resources in China's AI field. Centered on lectures covering AI fundamentals and cutting-edge developments, interdisciplinary project-based inquiry, and group-based science and technology innovation practices, it established a platform for cultivating young AI talent that bridges the gap between "learning institutions, universities, and K-12 schools."

A High-Profile Launch: Leading Experts Gather to Empower the Cultivation of Talented StudentsThe "National Artificial Intelligence Inquiry-Based Learning Camp for Primary and Secondary Schools," known as the "AI Inquiry Camp," is a public-interest program for cultivating talent in scientific and technological innovation, organized by the Chinese Association of Automation (CAA) and the Chinese Association for Artificial Intelligence (CAAI). The 2026 AI Inquiry Camp (Beijing) is jointly hosted by the School of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Hillhouse School of Artificial Intelligence at Renmin University of China.

Global artificial intelligence technology is currently entering a period of rapid development characterized by multimodal integration, the deployment of intelligent agents, and breakthroughs in embodied intelligence. This technological transformation is simultaneously reshaping the approach to talent development. On July 8, at the National Science and Technology Awards Conference, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized the need to cultivate young people's interest in science, scientific literacy, and experimental skills, and to guide young people with scientific research potential to dedicate themselves to the cause of science and technology. Grounded in the national strategy for cultivating scientific and technological innovation talent and the global wave of AI development, the "AI Exploration Camp" moves beyond superficial, tool-based science outreach. It focuses on the integrated cultivation of scientific thinking, problem-solving awareness, innovative practice, and scientific and technological ethics, guiding young people to understand the underlying logic of artificial intelligence and master the core competencies needed to solve real-world problems using technology.

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