AI giants Can Benefit Worldwide Nations

By Target Language Translation Services | Updated: 2021-7-12 16:00

A suite of the latest gadgets and solutions supplied with artificial intelligence made it to the 2021 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, the best embodiments of China's rich application scenarios that foster the sector's quick takeoff.

SenseTime is debuting its first autonomous-driving bus blending AI with augmented reality technology. The minibus can realize a Level 4, or 'high automation' driving level, where the vehicle does not need human intervention in given conditions. During the ride, passengers also get to view road conditions and scenery along the road in real time through two screens installed in the front and side of the vehicle cabin.

UBTECH Robotics, which makes intelligent humanoid robotics and AI technologies, unveiled its latest version of bipedal humanoid robot called Walker X during the event. The robot has been upgraded to perform a wider range of household tasks, including serving tea, pouring liquids, watering flowers, wiping surfaces and operating a vacuum cleaner. The gadget demonstrates its diversified and intelligent in-home service capabilities, being able to climb stairs, walk up and down slopes, play chess in real time, and walk on uneven terrain. What's more, Walker X can control common artificial internet of things devices, such as lights and appliances independently and according to user habits and scenarios.

IFlytek, the AI company with a specialty in voice recognition, is showing a dual-screen translator it recently launched. Two users can speak into the device and the translation is then presented to the other person in written form in real time on a screen attached to the other side. In daily conversation translation function, simultaneous interpretation level real-time translation can be realized without any operation, and the translation results are pushed to the screen in real time.

These gadgets and solutions backed by artificial intelligence shows that in the race to become the leader in artificial intelligence, China is way ahead of the rest of the world except the United States. What does that mean for the other countries? Will these two global technology giants soak up the AI economic dividend all for themselves?

The answer is "no". There is a huge opportunity for smaller, agile economies in Asia－to borrow from Isaac Newton－to stand on the shoulders of the two giants in order to reap the benefits of AI application in their own industries.

Of course, it's right to recognize the supremacy of the US and China. The AI research infrastructure they have built has translated into an unassailable advantage over other competing countries in Europe, North America and Asia. This is due to a number of factors: the depth of their capital markets, the richness of their skills bases, the dominant position of their cash-rich technology companies, and the data generation capacity of their vast populations.

However, the economic dividends from AI are not reserved for the researchers. The majority of the economic value promised by the AI revolution will be captured through innovation and application of AI technologies in industry. Enterprises and policymakers the world over should recognize that the AI dividend is theirs for the taking.

AI is a fundamentally open science. It is fierce, open competition in academia that drives global research forward. The relatively open borders to data flows and digital services mean the latest technological breakthroughs in one part of the world are quite quickly made available, and adaptable, to businesses everywhere else.

When it comes to AI application in industry, ambitious economies can learn from China's achievements. China has managed to establish a culture of technology adoption and data sharing in consumer interactions and business practices that give it a distinct edge.

There are three reasons behind this. The first is Chinese businesses' openness toward technological trial and error. Second, technology uptake is helped by China's robust and ambitious policy framework. And third, China has established a world-class skills base to not only develop AI solutions but integrate them into industries too.

These three factors have created a virtuous cycle in China. Rapidly growing Chinese companies are bringing AI products to the market and competing to pursue AI solutions that are customized to fit into Chinese scenarios. These solutions are embraced by receptive businesses, willing to quickly test, adopt, and integrate AI products into their activities. In doing so, they generate vast amounts of data in return, which allow developers to constantly and nimbly improve their AI products, and lead to innovative spill-over applications in different industries.

What's more, the growing domestic market justifies high levels of investment in the technology industry. The openness to AI across the wider economy is indirectly fuelling Chinese innovation in high-tech computer chip manufacturing and software development.

Other Asian countries can benefit from China's recent experience in AI, in pursuing their own virtuous cycle of AI integration. That means cultivating an open attitude toward AI adoption and integration within industry, emphasizing technology skills development and retention, as well as being open to foreign investment and technology trade. Chinese technology enterprises are major sources of funding for tech entrepreneurship in the wider Asian continent－which itself leads to valuable knowledge spill-overs around the region.

The AI economic dividend is not a prize being fought over by two international heavyweights. It's a universal economic opportunity that all Asian countries can pursue and will shape the competitive landscape across the region over the next decade.

This article is reprinted from China Daily.

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