IC-AIF 2026 Concludes Successfully: Ushering in a New Chapter in Finance, Exploring the Future of Technology

The 2026 International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Financial Technology (IC-AIF 2026) has successfully concluded! Hosted by Guangdong University of Finance and Economics, and jointly organized by its School of Finance and the AEIC Academic Exchange Center, this academic event brought together leading scholars, industry experts, and young talents from around the world, sparking innovation through the collision of ideas and injecting strong momentum into the deep integration of artificial intelligence and financial technology.

The conference received generous support and enthusiastic participation from authoritative figures across various sectors. Distinguished guests in attendance included President Tong Shiqing of Guangdong University of Finance and Economics; Dean Cai Weixing, Party Secretary Huang Jiena, and Vice Dean Guo Wenwei of the School of Finance, Guangdong University of Finance and Economics; Professor Benjamin W. Wah of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, IEEE Fellow, ACM Fellow, and AAAS Fellow; Director Zhang Xun of the Office of Social Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Changjiang Scholar; Dean Chen Haiqiang of the School of Financial Technology, Shenzhen University, Young Changjiang Scholar; and Director Guo Feng of the Interdisciplinary Laboratory for Digital-Real Integration and Intelligent Decision-Making, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, Young Changjiang Scholar. The gathering of so many prominent academic leaders added a rich scholarly atmosphere to the conference.

In his opening remarks, Dean Cai Weixing of the School of Finance, Guangdong University of Finance and Economics, stated that the conference has established a high-end academic exchange platform in the global fields of artificial intelligence and financial technology, focusing on the core issues of industry digital transformation, and aiming to promote interdisciplinary collaboration, share cutting-edge achievements, and address development challenges. He expressed his expectation that through in-depth discussions among the guests, the conference would chart the course for innovative development in financial technology and promote the deep integration of academic research and industrial application.

The conference was moderated by He Gongzheng, Associate Professor and Associate Researcher at the School of Finance, Guangdong University of Finance and Economics.

During the morning plenary session, four top scholars took the stage in succession, delivering highly insightful cutting-edge presentations:

- Professor Benjamin W. Wah, The Chinese University of Hong Kong: "Using Dominance to Harness the Complexity of Big Data and Financial Applications"

- Professor Zhang Xun, Beijing Normal University: "Research on Corporate Digital Transformation and Its Development Pathways"

- Professor Chen Haiqiang, Shenzhen University: "Public Data Openness, Price Bubble Correction, and the High-Quality Development of the Data Industry"

- Professor Guo Feng, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics: "Identifying Economic Links Using Social Media"

The professors' presentations were both grounded in theoretical frontiers and closely tied to industry practice, offering a feast of ideas to both on-site and online participants and sparking widespread resonance and in-depth reflection.

The 10 oral presentations in the afternoon were equally exciting. Scholars from multiple universities at home and abroad showcased their strengths and engaged in in-depth discussions on diverse topics:

1. Professor Wei Yuan, Weinan Normal University: "Economic Characteristics and Market Value of Informal Finance in Rural China: Based on a Farmer Household Survey"

2. Aleksandr Koviazin, University of Luxembourg: "Reproducibility in Trading Agent Frameworks"

3. Long Anqi, Guangxi Minzu University: "Teaching GPT to Explain Itself: An Explainable AI Framework for Loan Application Rejection in the Regulated Financial Sector"

4. Xi Shilong, Zhejiang Ocean University: "Research on the Mechanism of Digital Inclusive Finance's Effect on Agricultural Production Resilience Based on Multi-Algorithm Machine Learning Optimization"

5. Ye Taobo, Zhejiang Ocean University: "Research on the Impact of Green Finance Empowering High-Quality Agricultural Development"

6. Li Xiaosha, Zhejiang Ocean University: "Research on the Impact of Streamer Characteristics on Consumers' Impulsive Purchasing in Agricultural Product Livestreaming"

7. Mao Jiawei, Zhejiang Ocean University: "The Impact of Urban Sprawl on Agricultural Land Use Efficiency: Evidence from 283 Chinese Cities"

8. Ren Yu, Dalian Polytechnic University: "Research on the Efficiency of Provincial Elderly Care Resource Allocation in China: An SBM-DEA Model Analysis Based on Panel Data from 2017 to 2023"

9. Liu Shiqi, Shanghai International Studies University: "Research on Preferences for Robo-Advisor Usage Based on Risk Attitude Design"

10. Zhang Manfei, Jinan University: "Research on the Impact of Government R&D Subsidies on Carbon Emission Reduction of Industrial Enterprises under the 'Dual Carbon' Background"

With solid research foundations and innovative thinking, the scholars brought rich and diverse academic perspectives, and the on-site discussions were lively.

At the awards session near the end of the conference, the winners of the Outstanding Paper Award and Outstanding Oral Presentation Award were announced one by one. Ruan Miaoxin of Zhuhai College of Science and Technology, Chen Kaifan of Guangzhou University, Du Yixuan of Guangdong University of Finance and Economics, and Zhang Manfei of Jinan University won the Outstanding Paper Award for their high-quality research results;

Wei Yuan of Weinan Normal University, Ye Taobo of Zhejiang Ocean University, Aleksandr Koviazin of the University of Luxembourg, Li Xiaosha of Zhejiang Ocean University, Long Anqi of Guangxi Minzu University, Mao Jiawei of Zhejiang Ocean University, Xi Shilong of Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhang Manfei of Jinan University, and others received the Outstanding Oral Presentation Award.

The applause embodied recognition and praise for every academic effort. From keynote reports to oral presentations, from the collision of ideas to the announcement of awards, every segment of IC-AIF 2026 was infused with wisdom and passion. Thanks to all guests, participants, and organizing committee members for their dedicated efforts in making this academic event a complete success.

We look forward to gathering again next year to continue exploring the path of innovation in artificial intelligence and financial technology, and to writing a new chapter in industry development!

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