AI development should not be limited to the pursuit of artificial general intelligence (AGI), but instead focus on deploying diverse models suited to real-world scenarios, said Tencent Group Senior Executive Vice President Tang Daosheng at the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday.

Tang emphasized that Tencent Cloud’s strategy centers on enabling various AI models to operate and giving clients control over model selection through tool-based products. This approach aims to ensure AI applications are practical, cost-effective, and inclusive. “No one should be left behind,” he said.

In practice, Tencent has validated AI’s value internally at scale: over 12,000 engineers use the AI programming assistant CodeBuddy, which helps generate 50% of new code. Tang said AI is evolving from a single-purpose tool into an industrial coordination engine, driving cost reduction and efficiency improvements across sectors such as retail, healthcare, and education through solutions like 3D content generation and drug development.

He added that China’s AI ecosystem thrives on a combination of technological breakthroughs and deep integration with industry scenarios. This open and diverse environment provides fertile ground for iterative innovation, helping AI move from “pilot experimentation” to “systemic transformation.”