Elon Musk is set to be a keynote speaker at the World AI Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai on Thursday, according to the event agenda. However, it is not specified whether Musk will be attending in person or via video, but sources suggest he will not be there in person. The WAIC organizers have not yet confirmed Musk’s attendance or keynote.
Musk’s speech at WAIC coincides with the EU’s announcement of preliminary tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports. Tesla, the leading exporter of EVs from China to Europe, has requested a separate duty rate to be calculated for the company. Currently, Tesla faces a 21% additional tariff as part of companies cooperating with the investigation.
Tesla has not responded to requests for comment on the EU’s tariffs. Meanwhile, Chinese Premier Li Qiang is expected to deliver a speech during the opening ceremony of WAIC. Li and Musk previously met in Beijing in April to discuss Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software and data-transfer permissions. Musk has participated in WAIC in the past, providing video messages for previous editions of the event and attending in person in 2019.
