The State Council recently issued China's first artificial intelligence plan, the New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan. This landmark plan for the development of artificial intelligence has been strategically deployed, and a "three-step" goal has been established, with the aim of building China into the world's leading artificial intelligence innovation centre by 2030.
The "three steps" are: by 2020, the overall technology and application of AI will keep pace with the world's advanced level, the AI industry will become a new important economic growth point in China, and the application of technology will become a new way to improve people's livelihoods; by 2025, the basic theories of AI will achieve a major breakthrough, and some of the technologies and applications will reach the level of the world's advanced level, and the AI industry will become the driving force behind the upgrading of China's industries. Artificial intelligence industry has become the main driving force to drive China's industrial upgrading and economic transformation; by 2030, artificial intelligence theories, technologies and applications in general have reached the level, and China has become the world's major artificial intelligence innovation centre.
Becoming the world's major AI innovation centre means that the competitiveness of China's AI industry has reached the international level, the smart economy and smart society have achieved significant results, and an important foundation has been laid for being among the forefront of innovative countries and economic powers.
"A new generation of AI is accelerating its penetration into manufacturing and other industries to push up the new economy and accelerate the leap to intelligence." Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang said.
Artificial intelligence, a concept that has been born for more than 60 years today, is profoundly changing human life under the impetus of the Internet and big data. As the core driving force of the new round of technological revolution and industrial change, the new generation of AI will change the world.
Li Bohu, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said that the era of "Internet + artificial intelligence + big data" is coming, and "intelligent cloud manufacturing" is the landing and expansion of cloud computing in the field of manufacturing, is the implementation of the "Made in China 2025" and "Internet + manufacturing" action plan of an intelligent manufacturing mode and means.
Experts and the artificial intelligence industry generally believe that the development of artificial intelligence is entering a new stage, showing characteristics such as deep learning, cross-border integration, human-machine collaboration, group intelligence and openness, and intelligent operation. Like all disruptive technologies, the new generation of AI has a high degree of uncertainty, so it needs to be planned in an integrated manner and guided scientifically.
Over the years, national science and technology programmes have continued to support the research and development of AI-related technologies and have made important progress. It should be seen that there is still a gap between the overall development level of AI in China and the country. For example, there is a lack of major original achievements, and there is a large gap in basic theories, core algorithms, and key equipment, high-end chips, major products and systems, basic materials, components, software and interfaces; scientific research institutions and enterprises have not yet formed an ecosystem and industrial chain with international influence, and there is a lack of systematic and forward-looking R&D layouts; and talents are far from being able to meet the demand.
The plan calls for accelerating the in-depth integration of artificial intelligence with economy, society and national defence as the main line, enhancing the scientific and technological innovation capability of new-generation artificial intelligence as the main direction, building an open and collaborative artificial intelligence scientific and technological innovation system, grasping the characteristics of the high degree of integration of artificial intelligence technology attributes and social attributes, and adhering to the "trinity" of research and development, product application and industrial cultivation of artificial intelligence, and comprehensively supporting the scientific and technological development. The plan also insists on the "three-in-one" promotion of AI research and development, product application and industry cultivation, so as to comprehensively support science and technology, economy, social development and national security.
For the weak links, the plan stressed that, on the one hand, it will build an open and collaborative AI science and technology innovation system, and strengthen the deployment of cutting-edge basic theories, key common technologies, innovation platforms, high-end talent team, etc.; on the other hand, it will cultivate a high-end smart economy, develop new industries of artificial intelligence, promote the intelligent upgrading of industries, and create a highland of artificial intelligence innovation.
AI technology is also a "double-edged sword", which may bring about changes in employment structure, impact on laws and social ethics, infringe on personal privacy, and challenge the norms of international relations. Experts suggest that risks should be minimised to ensure the safe, reliable and controllable development of AI.