By gently tapping conference badges embedded with near-field communication (NFC) chips, participants exchanged contact information within seconds. Technology enthusiasts shared ideas with exhibitors and volunteers, while others listened attentively to speakers in packed meeting rooms. Together, these small moments captured the atmosphere of an event shaped as much by human connection as by technology.

The scene unfolded at the 10th China Open Source Conference (COSCon), organized by KAIYUANSHE and held from Dec 6 to 7 at Park Plaza Beijing Science Park.

With the theme "Open Source, Open Intelligence", the two-day event attracted more than 1,500 visitors, bringing together developers, community organizers, students, and industry representatives from China and abroad.

Conference topics ranged from traditional fields such as economics, law, and hardware to emerging areas including artificial intelligence, highlighting both technological change and the expanding role of open source in shaping new industries.

"AI has become an underlying layer in many technical fields," said Jiang Bo, chairperson of KAIYUANSHE and head of Open Source Growth of Ant Group.

"It is reshaping how open source develops, while open-source collaboration continues to support innovation in AI," she added.

One emerging area drawing particular attention was embodied intelligence, a frontier at the intersection of AI and robotics.

Jiang noted that 2025 has already seen rapid progress in the field, with much of it driven by open-source technologies.

"We believe the sector may undergo even greater transformation in 2026," she said, adding that the conference views embodied intelligence as a potential future technological direction.

Beyond technical frontiers, Jiang also reflected COSCon's growing international reach. Overseas guests included representatives from organizations such as the Open Source Initiative, OpenChain, and Open-UK, making this year's gathering the largest to date in terms of international participation.