Nanfang Metropolis Daily:

Now a new generation of AI technology is growing rapidly across the world and playing a vital role in more and more fields. My question is, how will the MIIT boost the innovative development of the new generation of AI industry and better empower the real economy? 

Tao Qing:

Thank you for your question. The development of AI, represented by large language models, features rapid technological innovation, strong application potential and fierce international competition. The deep integration of AI and the manufacturing sector is accelerating, which has deeply changed the production mode and economic form of the manufacturing sector. That shows a strong empowering effect of AI. 

The MIIT has fully implemented the policy decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, focuses on the integration of AI and the real economy, accelerates the cultivation and development of the AI industry, and facilitates the advancement of new industrialization. With the joint efforts of various departments and people from all walks of life, the core industry of AI in China has been growing in scale, with the number of related enterprises exceeding 4,400. Innovations related to smart chips, development frameworks, and general large-scale models are emerging. The synergetic development of cloud computing, intelligent computing, and supercomputing is supporting China's computing power to ensure it remains the second strongest globally. Mega projects such as “East Data, West Computing” which will channel more computing resources from the eastern areas to the less developed western regions, have been accelerated. The deep integration of AI and the manufacturing sector has effectively promoted the digital, intelligent, and green transformation of the real economy, with nearly 10,000 digital workshops and smart factories being built.

The next step will be to target key fields and strive to digitalize manufacturing and innovate the AI application. The efforts will be made in the following four aspects. First, we will lay a solid technological foundation for AI development. Major science and technology innovation programs will be launched to boost basic research and original innovation to achieve technological breakthroughs in large-scale model algorithms and frameworks, strengthen the computing power of smart chips, unlock data values, and enhance the R&D of "root" technologies. Second, we will promote the intelligent upgrade of key industries. We will promote the entire process of manufacturing to be intelligent, and the integrated application of AI technology in the whole process, largely raising the intelligent level of R&D, pilot-scale experiment, production, services, management, and other links. We will promote the AI pilot demonstration projects, expand special application scenarios, accelerate upgrading the manufacturing sector with digital and smart technologies, form real productivity, and improve quality and effectiveness of development of the manufacturing sector. Third, we will promote the development of intelligent products and equipment. We will leverage large-scale models featured with strong cognitive ability, strong interaction, and strong generative power to promote the upgrading and iteration of high-end equipment, key software and smart terminals, and improve the intelligent level of key products and equipment. Fourth, we will enhance the construction of the supporting service system. We will accelerate the cultivation of leading enterprises and innovative SMEs that use special and sophisticated technologies to produce novel and unique products, and establish innovation consortia. We will deepen international exchanges and cooperation in technological R&D, standard setting, ethical governance, and talent cultivation and make synergetic efforts to build a sound industrial ecosystem of artificial intelligence. Thanks.