The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) technology is stirring up the global landscape, marking it as a pivotal force in ushering in a new wave of technological revolutions and industrial transformationsRecent discussions from the 2024 World Internet Conference held in Wuzhen shine a spotlight on AI's technological advancements, its industrial implications, and its profound impact on the global economy and societyThis gathering not only seeks to address concerns about AI governance but also aims to foster dialogue, build consensus, and unify efforts towards a collaborative future.

In the arena of AI, the backbone infrastructure forms the cornerstone for innovationThe cost of computation directly correlates with the potential for breakthroughs in this sphereIn recent years, China has aggressively ramped up efforts to construct foundational infrastructure, gradually refining its computational supply structure to enhance the proportion of intelligent computing capabilities, thus meeting the burgeoning demands of AI applications

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National figures reveal that by the end of 2023, there were over 8.1 million data center racks in active use, with a total computational capacity reaching 230 EFLOPS (exaflops), placing China second globallyInitiatives such as the "East Data West Computing" project are actively advancing this agenda, with eight national computational hubs entering full construction phasesMoreover, China has established 14 national supercomputing centers and has seen an impressive growth of 70% in smart computing centers, alongside a notable increase in intelligence-driven computational capacity that now accounts for over 30% of the total.

Industry experts highlight the challenges posed by generative AI, including concerns about computational demands, energy consumption, data integrity, and the need for standardized practices and commercial viabilityAs Wang Jiang, the director of the China Cyber Space Research Institute, points out, “The technology behind AI models requires immense computational resources, and the energy consumption associated with this computation is significant

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Hence, it is crucial for the international community to explore and establish norms for orderly development.”

To address these challenges, companies like ZTE are stepping up, offering a wide range of intelligent computing products and solutions that encompass training servers, inference servers, and network switches, all while optimizing compatibility with mainstream GPU hardware and large foundational modelsThis versatility is crucial as businesses adapt to the diverse demands of building intelligent computing centers extending from centralized data facilities to edge computing scenariosZTE's CTO for the internet sector, Luo Tao, emphasizes the importance of aligning data, computation, and networks, creating a comprehensive tech stack from chips through operating systems to databases, significantly lowering both usage and operational costs for enterprises embracing digital transformation.

As discussions progress, the critical need for skilled talent, security, and collaborative frameworks becomes increasingly evident

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Wu Jianping, an academician from the Chinese Academy of Engineering and head of the Zhongguancun Laboratory, argues for a multi-faceted approach to marrying AI's rapid development with security protocolsEstablishing robust security frameworks and advancing core protective technologies are essential to ensuring that technological innovations are safe, reliable, and controllableFurthermore, there is a call for enhanced integration of educational resources with industry needs to cultivate talents equipped to thrive in an AI-driven futureProcesses for international cooperation in AI governance must be nurtured, enabling the sharing of technologies, standards, and best practices.

AI's importance in the economic landscape is burgeoning as innovative technologies, products, and models continue to emergeThe applications of AI are evolving rapidly, creating new engines of economic growthAs Jing Xiandong, the chairman and CEO of Ant Group, articulates, AI acts as a bridge connecting daily human needs to services

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The company is focused on the realms of healthcare and digital services, developing applications dubbed “health managers,” “financial managers,” and “life managers,” which include the “Anzhen Er” smart companion system that now serves over 10 million patients across more than 1,000 hospitals.

The transformative power of AI extends beyond mere service optimization; it empowers a multitude of sectors, catalyzing productivity reshaping industry standardsThe versatility of AI, when blended with domain-specific knowledge and proprietary insights from enterprises, is creating a powerful breed of customized intelligent systemsAlibaba’s CEO, Wu Yongming, notes that over 300,000 businesses have already engaged with Alibaba’s Tongyi model to revolutionize activities ranging from code development and drug discovery to expansive explorations into outer space, with valuable industry application experiences accumulating rapidly.

AI is more than just a tool; it is redefining the engines of enterprise growth

In early 2023, Kuaishou launched its AI strategy, which encompasses infrastructure development, tool innovation, and ecosystem cultivation—all aimed at leveraging technology for empowermentCo-founder Yang Yuanxi highlights the introduction of Kuaishou’s groundbreaking AI model aimed at genuine video generation, which has attracted more than 5 million users, culminating in the generation of over 51 million videosThis not only breathes new life into content creation but also fuels the ascent of the digital economy.

China's manufacturing sector has also experienced the deep integration of AI, with nearly 10,000 digital workshops and smart factories being established nationwideAccording to Li Wei, a researcher at the China Cyber Space Research Institute, over 421 national-level intelligent manufacturing demonstration factories are now operational, with cutting-edge technologies like AI and digital twins being utilized in more than 90% of these facilities.

These instances of innovation illustrate how AI is driving profound industry upgrades and societal advancement through the synthesis of technology and application scenarios

Looking to the future, the potential applications for AI remain vastAs Zhou Hongyi, founder of 360, suggests, the next goal for AI applications should be “intelligence for everything.” Envisioning a future where all smart hardware—from connected vehicles to personal devices—is equipped with advanced models, he emphasizes that specialized models, when supported by high-quality knowledge and data, can outperform general models in terms of efficiency and effectivenessHe likens general models to atomic bombs and specialized models to tea eggs, stressing the need for the latter to ensure AI's true transformative potential across diverse industries.

However, as we march forward with AI innovations, we must also be cognizant of the ethical dilemmas and security challenges that accompany these advancementsThe dual-edged sword nature of AI has raised considerable concern over how to effectively navigate potential pitfalls while promoting responsible chairmanship of this powerful technology

Addressing these challenges necessitates collective involvement from governmental bodies, businesses, and society at large in a collaborative governance framework.

While entities are actively seeking solutions to pressing AI-related issues, such as data privacy, algorithm bias, and deep fake concerns, efforts include policy adjustments and exploring advanced technologies capable of ensuring compliance and safeguarding stakeholdersAs Ji Fengdong articulates, their launch of the Inyu Cloud model data security platform facilitates secure data transitions during significant model hosting and inference processes, ensuring a compliant approach to data utility and value extractionSimilarly, Ant Group’s AI verification tool supports the authenticity of multi-modal content rapidly and accurately, marking a stride towards protecting against the misuse of AI technology.

China is committed to upholding principles of trust, mutual benefit, equality, and cooperation in cyberspace security, engaging proactively in global internet governance