“We need to establish a unified market for computing power services and efficient use of resources nationwide,” said Yu, a member of the CPPCC Committee.
Xi Jinping's high-tech promotion attracts attention during China's “two sessions”
Xi Jinping's high-tech promotion attracts attention during China's “two sessions”
His appeal resonated with other participants, including Miao Wei, senior vice president of communications equipment maker ZTE, and Bakui, general manager of China Mobile's Sichuan branch, who both called for increased investment in computing infrastructure and more coordination. He called for further development. Miao and Ma are NPC representatives.
“Computing power… has become the focus of international competition,” Ma said, noting that while most of the research team is based in first-tier cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, computing resources are available in other smaller cities. He also highlighted the imbalance in China's AI industry, with a large concentration in China. .
The call for a state-coordinated computing infrastructure comes after five Chinese government agencies, including MIIT and China's top economic planner, the National Development and Reform Commission, have announced an East-West Computing System, which coordinates computing resources between eastern China. This arose after the government announced a policy entitled “Ingredient Transfer''. Coastal states and their western interior regions.
But Zhang Yunquan, a CPPCC member and researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said the project mainly addresses the demands of traditional data centers and cloud computing, so the effort to train large-scale language (LLM) models for AI said it was of no use.
Instead, Zhang proposed a state-led effort to coordinate academic and industrial resources to build a “sovereign LLM.”
Cao Peng, chairman of the technical committee and head of cloud at Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com, called for the development of homegrown AI chips to circumvent Washington's export restrictions.
'Two sessions' in 2024: Construction of China's particle collider could start in 2027
'Two sessions' in 2024: Construction of China's particle collider could start in 2027
Liu Qingfeng, chairman of iFlyTek, a Chinese AI specialist known for its voice recognition capabilities, called for a national approach to “systematically and rapidly promote the growth of our country's artificial general intelligence.”
“We need to recognize the gap and integrate resources from the state level to accelerate catch-up. [with US AI firms]'' said Liu.
Zeng Yi, a CPPCC member and president of China Electronics Corporation, warned that China is lagging behind in generative AI in terms of human resources and basic scientific research. “We're all very anxious” about being left behind, Zeng said.
Premier Li Qiang introduced the AI+ initiative to integrate the power of AI across traditional sectors to boost economic growth and drive technology upgrades. Meanwhile, Chinese lawmakers and political advisers have expressed concerns about the potential for disruption from AI and called for effective regulation.
Lu Xiangping, the branch manager of China Mobile's branch in central Henan province, proposed a liability system that would hold service providers responsible for possible incidents, such as operators of regional ChatGPT-like services.
China has already introduced a registration system that requires local LLMs to apply for approval before providing public services. More than 40, or about one-fifth of the total number of LLMs in the country, have been given the green light for publication.
Zhang Yi, a CPPCC member and senior partner at the law firm King & Wood Mallesons, submitted a proposal to improve AI regulation, but too many laws could hinder the development of local industry. He also warned.
Explaining his proposal to local media, Zhang said China needs to balance regulation and development through an approach that clearly defines what is illegal, while also allowing companies to innovate and explore new areas. He said it was necessary to do so.
“As global AI competition intensifies…[we] “We need to be aware that heavy-handed legal intervention could impede the healthy and orderly development of AI,” he said.