China needs to explore unique capability in AI: CPPCC member

China should ramp up efforts to promote independent scientific exploration and innovation in artificial intelligence (AI), as the country seeks to pursue a unique path of AI innovation with Chinese characteristics, Xu Jiuping, a member of the CPPCC National Committee and a professor at Sichuan University, told the Global Times. 

"We should give full play to the spirit of Chinese people who always dare to explore and innovate," Xu said.

AI has become a heated topic in this year's two sessions of the NPC and the CPPCC, and the investment and application of AI technology would assist industries and businesses to achieve speedy digital transformation and nurture new quality productive forces for economic growth.

Chinese authorities have always actively supported the development of AI and have been striving to achieve greater self-reliance in technology advances. And AI is deemed as an important engine in driving the nation's economic transformation and upgrading, Xu said.

China is home to a huge market and talent reserve, and the population base and sound software and hardware infrastructure also provide a good foundation for data collection, Xu told the Global Times.

According to Xu, to seek ingenuity in developing more advanced AI innovations means finding a unique way that suits China's actual conditions and industrial development situation, and to better serve new needs and promote China's international competitiveness.

The US investments in exploration of AI in 2023 accounted for 60 percent of the global total investments, followed by China with 12 percent, Xu told the Global Times, adding that China is relatively weak in terms of "AI literacy, talent and research." 

According to information released by the White House, the US government has laid out an ambitious agenda for the country to lead on AI research and development. The Biden administration has been funding groundbreaking research to promote trustworthy AI through America's National AI Research Institutes. 

And, the emergence of ChatGPT and Sora, a large number of AI talent have allowed the US to lead in cutting-edge AI innovation.

To fill those gaps, Xu said Chinese enterprises can learn from the experience and practices of AI pioneers such as US-based OpenAI, while finding its own distinct way to promote AI innovation.

China should advocate independent homegrown innovation, Xu noted. 

"This kind of originality does not mean being complacent or rest on our laurels, but rather adhering to independent innovation, to better serve our development needs and promote our international competitiveness in advanced technologies," Xu said.

More importance should be attached to cultivating Chinese talent in mathematics, computing and algorithm, he added.

China's investment in AI is forecast to reach $38.1 billion in 2027, accounting for 9 percent of the world's total, according to a report released by market consultancy IDC.

"The Chinese market has the world's largest number of users and active data-producing entities, helpful for reshape many new and complex businesses and services," Xu said.