leading force in world AI research and busi-
ness. Besides the large number of Chinese
AI scientists and journal papers, the AI ap-
plications for consumer services via mobile
phones in China have outperformed devel-
oped markets, including the US, in terms of
both quantity and quality. A complete system
of AI research and commercialisation has al-
ready been developed in China, he said.
China is well-positioned to develop and
install new technologies like AI. More Chi-
nese professionals have returned to China
after studying and working abroad. All three
co-founders of AISpeech are Cambridge
graduates. Yu was never hesitant about com-
ing back as he says he saw many more oppor-
tunities in China for fast development in the
world’s largest market where tech-oriented
startups are increasingly encouraged.
But China lags behind the US on basic,
original research. Yu attributes this partly to
less tolerance towards failure and more eager-
ness to produce visible results with immedi-
ate monetising possibility, a mindset that
prevails among society and investors. An-
other gap, Yu said, is the weak link between
research institutes and industrial companies.
Another barrier that is hindering the AI
development in China is the old problem
of discriminatory treatment of the country’sprivate small and medium sized enterprises
(SMEs). As one of the few tech-driven AI
companies in China, AISpeech has got fiscal
support from the government. However, Yu
hopes private SMEs, particularly tech start-
ups, can have equal access to national projects
which also mean more market opportunities
to promote new technologies.
AI might offer new learning possibilities.
But the age-old programming rule, “Garbage
In, Garbage Out” still applies. Only when AI
is directed toward the right ends will it end
up serving public need, rather than being a
flashy buzzword, or even a weapon against
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