The Development of Artificial Intelligence in China: Conclusions

Giancarlo Valori

Artificial Intelligence has many impacts on culture. AI technology can improve human knowledge, language and cultural life. Therefore AI education needs to be created and developed, as the dissemination and popularisation of AI knowledge is also a fundamental part of the overall knowledge process.

Scientific dissemination and popularisation involves two aspects. On the one hand, disseminating the basic knowledge of Artificial Intelligence to the public, enabling them to understand AI objectively and correctly, and supporting related activities. On the other hand, popularising the basic knowledge of Artificial Intelligence among young people, nurturing and cultivating their specific interest in the subject, and even discovering and training a group of budding scholars in the AI science and technology. These are important guarantees for the sustainable development of Artificial Intelligence. Furthermore, an important step is to make Artificial Intelligence an angel rather than a devil. The scientific work open to the popular masses in China is playing a considerable role.

Secondly, the country fights for strong support from the State and enterprises. A scientific basis of Artificial Intelligence is established and an exemplary role is being played in the spreading of benefits. Scientific and technological staff and teachers at all levels are encouraged and the publication of scientific popularisation works, which are widely disseminated among citizens, is supported. In this regard, the publication of scientific journals on Artificial Intelligence is important to present development trends, application examples, scientific knowledge and to illustrate the developments of Artificial Intelligence at home and abroad to Chinese youth. Various AI technology competitions and summer and winter camps are standardised and organised. The interest of the general public is extended, also in primary schools, in particular. Online AI competitions are organised for university students and for primary and secondary schools across the country to also extend a good ecological culture of Artificial Intelligence.

Furthermore, in the development of AI culture and technology in China, special attention is paid to the role of academic groups at all levels, so that these organisations can play a special role in the dissemination of AI knowledge and the development of AI culture.

Although, as is the case with any new technology, Artificial Intelligence brings economic benefits to creators, vendors and users, its development has caused or is about to cause a number of problems, concerns and regrets for some people. These problems are related to employment, changes in the social structure, changes in the ways of thinking and in the concepts, psychological threats and the danger of technology getting out of control. Some people fear that the AI technology may deprive them of their jobs and lead to unemployment, and that the intelligence of robots may surpass that of humans and threaten security itself. These are all social issues worthy of great attention and affecting social stability and harmony.

The sociological issue of Artificial Intelligence is on the country’s agenda. Government departments, scientific research institutes and academic groups in the People’s Republic of China incorporate the sociological research on Artificial Intelligence into the corresponding plans and study countermeasures and methods. Some possible negative effects or new problems of Artificial Intelligence, such as the use of AI technology to perpetrate financial crimes (the so-called “intelligent crime” without bloodshed and material theft of property), and smart driving vehicles need corresponding laws and traffic rules and regulations. Relevant policies, case law and regulations are therefore established to avoid possible risks and ensure the positive effects of Artificial Intelligence. Only when Artificial Intelligence is implemented and understood well can we ensure that AI is not abused and it is an angel rather than a devil.

Furthermore, as mentioned above, Artificial Intelligence has changed the social structure: collaboration and intelligent humans-machine coexistence will become the new normal of the human social structure, which will certainly have a momentous impact on human society.

After sixty years of development, international Artificial Intelligence has made great progress and is currently showing an explosive growth trend. In recent years, there has been an unprecedented favourable development environment for Artificial Intelligence in the People’s Republic of China and abroad. Several new AI ideas and technologies have sprung up like mushrooms after the rain. In general terms, however, Artificial Intelligence is still in the early stage of development, and is still far from being sufficient to theoretically threaten the survival of human beings, but its presence in society should be greatly appreciated.

For historical reasons, Chinese Artificial Intelligence started late and suffered long diversions. However, after the reform and opening process in the late 1970s, Chinese Artificial Intelligence has gradually embarked on a broad development path. Chinese Artificial Intelligence has currently ushered in the spring of development and is preparing for major changes and innovations, which will surely provide a historic contribution to China’s modernisation.

As a key technology in the cyber age, Artificial Intelligence will increasingly become the engine of a new industrial revolution cycle, which will profoundly influence the country’s international competition and competitiveness model. China has seized national strategic opportunities such as Internet+, Made in China 2025 and Artificial Intelligence+, as well as the historic opportunity of the second machine revolution. It has vigorously developed AI technology and industries and injected momentum into the new normal of the economy, in such a manner as to change the way of thinking.

In China the development trend of international Artificial Intelligence is systematically planned, based on the actual needs of domestic social development; relevant national resources are coordinated and integrated, and development goals are scientifically set.

It is absolutely essential to respect and explore the law of AI development, to recognise the development situation, to identify gaps, to clarify the direction of efforts, to catch up with the international advanced level and provide a positive contribution to the development of international Artificial Intelligence.

With a view to developing AI technology and industry, past, present and future experts in China take decisions, build confidence, are open-minded, establish perseverance, exercise patience, pursue meticulous work, are original and attentive, so as to reassure people all over the country about the urgency of pursuing Artificial Intelligence as a primary basis for growth, free from fear.

It is believed that, faced with the opportunity of Artificial Intelligence development, China’s Ministries and Departments at all levels and AI developers are surely capable of seizing opportunities, creating new national splendour and welcoming the new era of Artificial Intelligence. AI technology and products are all around us and the beginning of the AI era is just behind us.

With specific reference to scientific and technological innovation, the Secretary General of the Communist Party of China, Xi Jinping, has always stressed the need to strive for building world power in science and technology, since the more the planet advances in technology, the more it is a guiding light for China’s technological and scientific research and exploration, in all fields including Artificial Intelligence. Faced with Xi Jinping’s continuous appeals on the subject, the country currently mobilises the powerful engine of technological innovation and continues to advance towards the goal of becoming a leading nation in AI.