Experts Commend National Strategy for AI Advancement
China’s Unique Approach to Artificial Intelligence Development
China is actively establishing its own approach to artificial intelligence (AI) that emphasizes reliable and effective applications across various sectors. This perspective is notably different from that of the United States, as highlighted by industry experts and executives during the ongoing Zhongguancun Forum.
Growing Interest in AI
The forum has been witnessing enthusiastic participation, with attendees filling every available seat and many others standing along the walls. This level of interest demonstrates the significant role AI is playing in China, a trend that was also noticeable at the recent Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference and the China Development Forum.
Distinct Vision for AI
The Insights of Experts
Joseph Sifakis, a Turing Award winner, remarked that China is crafting a unique AI vision that sets it apart from the US. He emphasized that China’s robust industrial foundation and cohesive domestic market enable the country to create more dependable AI solutions that cater to the demands of the real economy, particularly in emerging sectors like autonomous driving. According to Sifakis, the development of self-driving vehicles, smart cities, smart factories, and intelligent agriculture presents significant opportunities that could establish China as a leader in industrial AI.
A Growth Milestone: The DeepSeek Moment
Kai-Fu Lee, an influential AI expert and head of investment firm Sinovation Ventures, discussed what he terms China’s "DeepSeek moment." He predicts that 2025 will be pivotal for AI applications and the deployment of large-scale models in China. Nine months prior, Lee expressed concerns about China not having a notable "ChatGPT moment," as local AI models had yet to gain widespread traction. However, he believes that the emergence of DeepSeek has revitalized the Chinese market and sparked a new era in AI development.
Lee also emphasized the importance of open-source development in AI, stating that "closed-source AI has no future." As AI scaling laws evolve from pretraining to inference stages, he anticipates a rapid expansion of AI applications this year.
Rapid Adoption of AI Technology
Gao Xuefeng, founder and CEO of the AI infrastructure company Fabarta, noted that the breakthrough of DeepSeek has encouraged many Chinese companies to invest in AI. He pointed out that technological advancements are occurring regularly, prompting businesses to integrate AI into their operations without delay. Gao predicts that every sector in China has the potential to be transformed by AI in the coming years.
Advancements in AI Capabilities
Wang Zhongyuan, head of the Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence, acknowledged that DeepSeek has achieved remarkable results, demonstrating that China’s capabilities to train large-scale AI models can rival those of advanced models like ChatGPT-4, despite limitations in computing power. He believes these technologies may also be useful for international institutions, which could accelerate global AI development.
The Path to Artificial General Intelligence
When discussing the goal of achieving artificial general intelligence—the state where AI systems can perform any task that humans can do—Wang indicated that the industry is still several years away from this level of achievement. He estimates that it may take at least five to ten more years, if not longer, to realize such capabilities.
Conclusion
China’s focused strategy in AI development emphasizes its unique industrial strengths and proactive market response, setting the stage for significant growth and innovation in the field. As the country embraces advancements like DeepSeek, it appears poised for an exciting journey in the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence.
