How China is Leading the Global AI Race with Innovation and Talent
Imgsrc: Visitors touch the humanoid robot hands on display at an AI exhibition booth during the 2024 The World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) & High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance with the themed "Governing AI for Good and for All" at the Shanghai Expo Center Multifunction Hall in Shanghai China
Introduction
China has made an important move in advancing artificial intelligence as a global leader by investing massively in cutting edge innovations and on Generative AI .They decided to compete with giants like US and Europe.They frame a strategy focusing healthcare ,education ,security and transportation.
“To film a short drama manually costs on average US$71,000 to US$284,000. Using our SkyReels AI short drama platform, we could lower the cost to just a few hundred dollars,” said Fang Han, chairman and CEO of Kunlun Tech. “This is very meaningful because it allows more people to join the ranks of video creators.”
China's AI Ambitions
China’s journey towards becoming an AI powerhouse began with the announcement of its Artificial Intelligence Development Plan in 2017. This ambitious roadmap outlined the nation's goal of becoming the world leader in AI by 2030.They include key factors like
1.Support from Government-Prioritise AI as Critical component
2.Data Ecosystem -Access large data sets to generate large amount of data
3.Talent and Research -Renowned AI research centers like Tsinghua University and Baidu's AI Lab, which drive innovations in deep learning and neural networks.
Generative AI: The New Frontier
“This includes character development, rendering backdrops, and using the AI generative content model to quickly create better content as well as characters,” said Chen Liang, general manager of Tencent Cloud’s internet industry department. “We now see more open world games, with fresh characters and new storylines at every level.”-Chen Liang on Gaming Sector
(Photo: AP/Ng Han Guan)
Generative AI is implemented in the following sectors
1.Art and Design-Most of Startups uses AI for creating more designs
2.Healthcare- AI driven tools for preparing patient history and recommendations diagnosis
3.Content Creation:. Chinese companies like Tencent and ByteDance are exploring generative AI for content production.
Competitive Edge in Hardware
“China has the world’s largest single market of internet users,” said Steve Shen, managing partner at tech recruitment firm Empower. “We possess enough conditions and space for new and innovative AI products to emerge. What’s more, China is the world’s largest manufacturing base. We can use AI to power robots to help us raise productivity.”China is good at turning technologies into products, said Kunlun Tech’s Fang.
(AP Photo/Andy Wong)
China always stands out because of unlimited software and data in AI. The country is making huge production in AI hardware, mainly in the production of AI chips. These specialized processors, designed for machine learning tasks, are crucial for running complex AI models efficiently. Chinese companies like Huawei and Alibaba are investing heavily in developing advanced AI chips to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers.The development of AI chips has become a strategic priority as the U.S.-China trade war highlights the importance of self-reliance in technology.They plan to produce their own hardware so they are not dependent on the US and hence they can be in leading hardware and software competition among nations.
AI in National security
“ China is considered as the world's largest pool of AI EngineersEvery year, there are about 3.7 million STEM (science, tech, engineering and mathematics) graduates in China, " said Fang. The United States, in comparison, produces 800,000. “Annually, China publishes the highest number of AI academic papers in the world, more than the US,” he added
China is more cautious in National security as they are implementing more on AI .They use AI in military decision-making .AI also plays a vital role in China’s national security ambitions. The country is rapidly incorporating AI into its military capabilities, from autonomous drones to AI-driven surveillance systems. China's AI-enhanced surveillance networks are among the most sophisticated in the world, using facial recognition technology and data analytics to monitor the population in real-time.
Talent Wars
One of the biggest challenges for China is the Global Talent Race.Even Though they produce their own needs they face problem in US and other AI hub countries like Canada and Europe Many of China’s top AI researchers are educated or have experience working in Silicon Valley, and the country is more attentive to attract more talent back home. They are providing more Incentives like higher salaries, access to cutting-edge resources, and government support for keeping their position in the global market.
Challenges and Risk in AI Implementation
Data privacy concerns - Public will raise questions on Data privacy
Management issues - There can be regulatory challenges on solving complex issues and accessing large data sets
Competitive wars- As there are many issues with other nations ,they should be self-sufficient & motivated to achieve their goal
Future of AI in China
China’s AI ambitions are bold, and the country will not demotivate. As AI technology continues to improve, China will wish to maintain its leadership position in several AI fields, especially in generative AI, national security applications, and AI hardware development.With continuous investments in talent, research, and infrastructure, China’s AI strategy is set to reshape industries and makes it as a global AI leader.
Conclusions
“The earlier you can master prompt engineering, the more you'll be able to have an edge in the age of AI.”Liu said with AI reducing labour costs, manpower can instead be “used to a more creative and more valuable approach, rather than having (employees) do repetitive work”. But other observers cautioned that AI adoption could disrupt the labour market and worsen unemployment. “Those jobs that can be completed on the computer would be impacted the most,” said Fang.
China’s key strategies, challenges, and advancements in its AI ambitions, focusing on generative AI and AI hardware. It also touches on national security and the Global AI Talent Race
References
1.https://www.channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/china-artificial-intelligence-ambition-technology-talent-generative-ai-4649046
2.https://www.chathamhouse.org/2024/07/workplace-ai-china#:~:text=Nikki%20Sun&text=The%20use%20of%20AI%20in,insights%20from%20China%20are%20critical.
3.https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2023/07/chinas-ai-regulations-and-how-they-get-made#:~:text=The%20baskets%20of%20applications%20are,capstone%20on%20Chinese%20AI%20policy.
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