Zhang Yijia Forecasts 2026 AI Trends: Capital Surge and Next-Generation Intelligence Paradigms

Zhang Yijia, founder and CEO of Chinese tech think tank 甲子光年, presented a 2026 AI trend report at a Beijing investment conference, arguing China's venture capital has entered a new cycle as financing, investment, and exits rebounded in H1 2026.

He said AI absorbed over 70% of global venture investment in H1 2026, with OpenAI and Anthropic together raising $217 billion, and that global AI-related capex is expected to exceed $1 trillion in 2026.