China’s AI industry in need of innovation boost: insider

China’s artificial intelligence (AI) sector does not lag behind those in developed countries in terms of algorithms, but more should be done to develop data and applications, Liu Qingfeng, a deputy to the 13th National People’s Congress and president of Chinese voice recognition device manufacturer iFlytek, told reporters on Monday night.

“AI needs new technological breakthroughs. Chinese companies and research institutions need to make original innovations in the next five to 10 years,” Liu said.

At this year’s two sessions of the National People’s Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Liu proposed a national strategy of “AI Plus.”

He proposed integrating AI industry chain resources, including original technological and product innovation as well as typical applications in order to form an AI innovation system led by corporations, while also establishing industry-academia-research collaboration.

Also, he called for AI application in diagnosis and treatment so as to mitigate the shortage of doctors and medicine in rural areas.

“Our AI online diagnosis platform covers 50 counties in [East China’s] Anhui Province and will expand to 105 counties this year,” he said.

As for China’s data security, including laws and regulations for individual privacy protection, Liu said that there is still room for improvement.

Photo :IC Dong Mingzhu, a deputy to the First Session of the 13th National People’s Congress and chairwoman of Gree Electric Appliances Inc, attends a plenary meeting on the Government Work Report in Beijing on Tuesday. Dong has urged raising the threshold for...