Illustration:Xia Qing/GT
The 2024 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance is set to be held from Thursday to Saturday in Shanghai.
With the international nature of the conference, the cutting-edge theme and the high caliber of participants, the conference serves as a platform for China to exhibit its scientific and technological advancements, foster international exchanges and cooperation, and collaborate with other nations to advance global governance in the rapidly developing AI field.
If anything, it is a testament to China’s exceptional progress and achievements in the AI field. Over the years, China has made significant strides in AI technology research and development, application, and industrial growth, solidifying its position as a key player in the global AI landscape.
According to data from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, as of June 2023, China’s core AI industry reached a scale of 500 billion yuan ($68.74 billion), with the number of AI companies exceeding 4,400, second only to the US.
Moreover, the development of large-scale AI application in China is highly active and progressing rapidly. This is partly because China’s vast market scale and diverse application scenarios create ample opportunities for the development and application of AI technology. At present, China leads the utilization of AI in 20 sub-fields, including smart cities, smart manufacturing, smart agriculture and AI for science, according to a recent report by the Institute of Chinese Path to Modernization of Nankai University.
Meanwhile, the country’s scientific research institutions and tech companies have achieved remarkable progress in both basic research and innovative applications of AI. Stanford University’s 2024 AI Index Report showed that in 2022, China led global AI patent origins with 61.1 percent, significantly outpacing the US. Additionally, companies like Tencent, Alibaba and Huawei have emerged as key players in AI research, with breakthroughs in autonomous driving, cloud computing and big data analytics, which not only drive technological progress, but also provide new drivers for economic and social development.
In addition, China’s large-scale AI applications drive the transformation and upgrading of the domestic industry. Moreover, they also have a positive impact on a global scale. As technology costs decrease, AI is no longer limited to large companies and is rapidly spreading across all sectors, becoming a crucial driver of digital transformation for small- and medium-sized companies. As industrial digital transformation deepens, AI is increasingly becoming a key force in driving global economic growth and social development.
However, China also faces difficulties and challenges in its AI development. To enhance its global hegemony, especially military hegemony, the US has repeatedly used its leading position in high-end technology to limit the development of AI industries in countries like China.
It has not only imposed restrictions over exports of high-end AI chips, chip-making equipment and relevant technology to China, but it has also stepped up scrutiny of Chinese investment in the AI sector.
The US sanctions have not deterred China from moving forward in the AI field, on the contrary, China continues to progress through independent innovation and international cooperation, continuously overcoming technological barriers and enhancing its scientific and technological capabilities. The relentless pursuit of innovation in the face of challenges has earned China respect and recognition in the global scientific and technological arena.
Meanwhile, China is sharing the fruits of AI development with the rest of the world through a collaborative and open approach. China’s international cooperation projects in the field of AI are deepening scientific ties and mutual trust with countries around the world, while China’s exploration in AI governance also provides valuable experience for the world. This commitment to openness is not merely symbolic, it is a deliberate decision that has invigorated the global AI industry and represents a significant contribution from China to the field.