- Advertisement -
BEIJING, Nov. 7 (APP): At the ongoing 2025 World Internet Conference – Light of the Internet Expo in Wuzhen, Zhejiang, China, innovators from across the globe demonstrated how technology can be inclusive, accessible, and human-centered, bringing the benefits of AI, blockchain, clean energy, and robotics to communities everywhere.
The event highlighted solutions that empower ordinary people, small businesses, and regions with limited infrastructure to harness advanced technologies for sustainable growth and improved quality of life.
Blockchain Empowers African Farmers
On the ground, Zimbabwean startup Wazisana showcased how blockchain can transform agricultural trade, connecting farmers directly with global buyers in a transparent and inclusive manner. Built on Hyperledger Fabric, Wazisana’s permissioned blockchain records every step of the supply chain from harvest and transport to processing and distribution, creating an immutable and verifiable record.
“Wazisana is about trust and fairness,” said Thulani Dubuya, co-founder of the company. “It allows farmers to sell directly to importers, ensuring transparency and immediate payment.”
By cutting out intermediaries, the platform helps farmers earn higher prices for their produce while giving buyers access to traceable, sustainable products that comply with international regulations. “If you use our platform, your selling price can increase by at least 50 percent,” Dubuya explained. “The buyer pays less, and the farmer earns more. Everyone benefits.”
Recognizing the limited digital literacy and access to smartphones in rural areas, Wazisana employs local cooperative agents who assist farmers in recording harvests and updating data, ensuring full participation. “Even farmers who don’t own smartphones can take part,” Dubuya said. “The world should be transparent and interconnected; and blockchain is just the tool. What matters is giving farmers visibility, dignity, and a fair chance in the global market.”
Portable Solar Systems Bring Clean Energy Within Everyone’s Reach
From farms to homes, accessible clean energy solutions took the spotlight. Lana, a representative from Solvio Solar, explained how portable solar systems are helping households and communities in areas with unstable electricity access or limited infrastructure, CEN reported.
“You can use them on buildings for extra power, or take them when you travel or go camping,” Lana said. “Energy should be easy to access, wherever you are.”
Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Hong Kong, the company works with partners across Southeast Asia to provide lightweight, portable solar panels that are simple to install and use. The systems allow communities in remote areas to maintain power for daily needs without relying on large-scale installations. “For many people, portable solar panels can make a big difference,” Lana emphasized. “It’s about making sustainable energy practical and affordable for everyone, not just cities or industrial users.”
AI Robots Make Technology Relatable and Human-Centered
Shenzhen-based Digit Technology Co., Ltd. brought a human touch to AI innovation by showcasing its latest emotionally intelligent humanoid robots. Designed for both functional and empathetic interactions, these robots are deployed across sectors including finance, telecom, retail, and healthcare.
“Our robots can recognize whether people are happy or upset and respond appropriately,” said Andy Wu, General Manager of Public Relations and Government Affairs. “That’s what we mean by emotional intelligence, namely robots that understand human emotions and can interact naturally.”
Digit’s robots are already being used for customer service, guidance, and companionship. The company offers customizable models: general-purpose units with a cooler, mechanical design, and bionic series with realistic human faces and expressions, often deployed in healthcare and exhibition spaces where emotional connection is critical.
“Our mission is to make AI benefit everyone,” Wu said. “We want robots not just to serve, but to connect with people with warmth. Technology should be inclusive, relatable, and human-centered.”
AI Satellites Bring Space Technology Closer to More Countries
Looking beyond the Earth, a Hangzhou-based company named STAR.VISION Aerospace presented AI-powered satellites designed to provide actionable data to countries with limited local capacity in aerospace or AI.
“We are a private aerospace company in Hangzhou, driven by artificial intelligence,” Li Xiaoshan, a company representative, said. “Our goal is to use AI technology not only in space exploration, but also to improve life on Earth.”
In 2024, the company delivered Oman’s first intelligent computing satellite, equipped with AI capabilities to process hyperspectral data directly in orbit. This allows countries to monitor crop health, detect pest infestations, and track environmental changes, all in near real-time. “Many of our partners, especially along the Belt and Road, have strong interest but limited capacity,” the representative said. “We provide training programs, and over 1,500 engineers have participated in technical exchanges and algorithm development with us.”
The satellites demonstrate how advanced technology, once limited to space agencies and large corporations, can be applied to practical, everyday problems in agriculture, disaster prevention, and environmental monitoring, bringing a tangible sense of inclusiveness to the final frontier.
A Shared Vision of Inclusive Innovation
From the soil beneath farmers’ feet to orbiting satellites above, the 2025 Light of Internet Expo of the WIC highlighted a shared vision, that is, Technology should not just be advanced, but also accessible and human-centered. By emphasizing transparency, affordability, and empathy, exhibitors demonstrated that innovation can be a global public good, connecting people, nations, and industries while ensuring that the benefits of the digital age are within everyone’s reach.