Exploring the World Artificial Intelligence Conference: How New Faces Reflect AI's Innovative Power

The 2024 World Artificial Intelligence Conference is set to begin on the 4th, revealing a host of innovative developments across the AI landscape. With large models at the forefront, AI applications are increasingly delivering tangible solutions across various industries.

Established brands are exploring the potential of personal AI assistants, while others are deploying AI in high-risk settings like mining to drive new industrialization. There's also a strong focus on building the essential infrastructure for the smart era, particularly in advancing core computing technologies.

China's commitment to innovation in artificial intelligence is on full display. At the conference, OPPO introduced its “Xiao Bu” assistant, enabling users to seamlessly integrate a large model into their smartphones. Attendees witnessed features like the immediate organization of meeting notes and the effortless removal of unwanted elements from images. Users can effortlessly create various photo styles, from ID pictures to artistic shots. OPPO's founder and CEO, Chen Mingyong, remarked that AI smartphones may represent the industry’s next evolution, following feature phones and traditional smartphones.

In another highlight, Yikong Smart Driving presented real-time automation at a major open-pit coal mine in Inner Mongolia. Company representatives shared insights into their autonomous truck transportation project, which has operated safely for over six months, achieving a remarkable single-day output of 21,800 cubic meters. Lin Qiao, Strategic Vice President of Yikong Smart Driving Technology Co., Ltd., explained that vehicles now feature integrated computing platforms, lidar, and positioning communication systems, forming a real-time response network. The evolution of autonomous mine trucks is paving the way for large-scale replication and commercial viability, advancing the goals of “smart, unmanned, green, and zero-carbon” mining.

As we embrace the era of large models, computing power remains essential to AI’s advancement. This year’s conference showcases numerous computing power firms, including Wuwen Xinqiong, which introduced its “M×N” solution. Wang Yu, co-founder and head of the Department of Electronic Engineering at Tsinghua University, explained that this intermediary product harmonizes “M types of models” with “N types of chips,” optimizing resource utilization and enabling large model developers to reduce costs while enhancing efficiency.

Innovative AI applications are swiftly embedding themselves into daily life, broadening their reach into new scenarios. Meanwhile, foundational technologies are honing core capabilities. These emerging players embody China's rapid pursuit of new productive forces in the AI sector, driving growth across diverse industries.

“Artificial intelligence is a key strategic priority for Shanghai. The World Artificial Intelligence Conference is a major international event in this domain, with record-high exhibition space, participating companies, and featured projects this year,” remarked Zhang Ying, Director of the Shanghai Municipal Economic and Information Commission. Shanghai is committed to developing model algorithms, intelligent computing, and embodied intelligence to advance future industries, tackle governance challenges, and create precise alignments between AI technologies and application needs, thereby accelerating the creation of new productive forces.