2018年CRI AI technologies become part of everyday life in China

 

Artificial intelligence, or AI, provides machines with human-like cognitive¹ abilities that enable them to solve complex problems.

The world's technology giants have started to carve out their own priorities for AI development and have started fiercely competing in this new market.

In China, AI technologies that not long ago would have looked like science fiction are becoming part of everyday life, as well as a major force for economic growth.

AI technology is developing rapidly in China. From small startups to Internet giants, an increasing number of tech firms are gearing up for big successes in the field.

In a logistics center in Guangdong belonging to JD.com, one of China's biggest online retailers², 300 robots work non-stop on a 12 hundred square meter platform sorting parcels for delivery.

These robots run automatically, transferring goods from storage shelves to packing areas.

Yang Shaopeng, a staff member working at the center, says the robots can sort up to 12 thousand parcels per hour, which is four times faster than human sorters.

"We have a control center behind all the robots. And there are QR codes on the ground. By reading these codes, robots can know their specific location. Meanwhile the controlling system can give orders to robots to tell them which path they should go next," Yang said.

As AI technology continues to mature, more and more industries are going through an automation revolution.

Cloud computing³, big data, and the Internet of Things have been thriving, with new products and services constantly springing up.

Accenture is a world leading global provider of information technology consulting services.

Chen Xiaobing, the president of Accenture China, says he is very optimistic about AI development in China.

"Accenture lately released a report on how AI will boost Chinese economic growth in the future. It's estimated that in 2035 AI will generate 7 trillion dollars for Chinese economy. In the research of the past 20 years we discovered that the advantage brought by adequate labor⁴ supply and the market capacity for traditional investment are fading, while AI, which combines real economy with labor as well as capital is growing. This method of development will surge in the next few years," Chen said.

YITU is a Chinese tech firm focused on AI research and development.

At its headquarters, staff don't need to clock in and out, as the company developed facial recognition scanners to automatically record their arrival and departure times.

Facial recognition technology like this is being used in service industries including security, medicine, and banking⁵.

For example, in Shanghai, facial recognition technology has enabled people to withdraw money from an ATM just by showing up in front of the machines.

Sha Yang is a department director at YITU Tech.

"To some extent we are changing these industries. I believe with the universal utilization⁶ of AI technology, more changes will be seen in different industries," Sha said.

In addition to achievements in AI software, Chinese AI research teams have also made breakthroughs in new hardware.

Last November, a Shenzhen based tech company launched three new AI chips.

Similar to the famous Alfa Go, the chips are able to develop learning capabilities⁷ in such areas as smart driving, language processing, and image and voice recognition.

Chen Tianshi is the chief executive of the company.

"I always compare the traditional processor to a Swiss Army Knife. It can do a lot of different things but is not good at one particular thing. Therefore what we do is give AI ability in a special area and let it solve special problems," Chen said.

China's government wants its homegrown AI businesses to be ready to take on global rivals by the year 2020.

A government document released in December calls for expanding basic research and the application of AI technology in areas ranging from smart automobiles⁸ to robots and drones.

1 cognitive   

adj.认知的，认识的，有感知的

参考例句：

• As children grow older,their cognitive processes become sharper.孩子们越长越大，他们的认知过程变得更为敏锐。
• The cognitive psychologist is like the tinker who wants to know how a clock works.认知心理学者倒很像一个需要通晓钟表如何运转的钟表修理匠。

2 retailers   

零售商，零售店( retailer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• High street retailers reported a marked increase in sales before Christmas. 商业街的零售商报告说圣诞节前销售量显著提高。
• Retailers have a statutory duty to provide goods suitable for their purpose. 零售商有为他们提供符合要求的货品的法定义务。

3 computing   

n.计算

参考例句：

• to work in computing 从事信息处理
• Back in the dark ages of computing, in about 1980, they started a software company. 早在计算机尚未普及的时代（约1980年），他们就创办了软件公司。

4 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

5 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

6 utilization   

n.利用，效用

参考例句：

• Computer has found an increasingly wide utilization in all fields.电子计算机已越来越广泛地在各个领域得到应用。
• Modern forms of agricultural utilization,have completely refuted this assumption.现代农业利用形式，完全驳倒了这种想象。

7 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

8 automobiles   

n.汽车( automobile的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• When automobiles become popular,the use of the horse and buggy passed away. 汽车普及后，就不再使用马和马车了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Automobiles speed in an endless stream along the boulevard. 宽阔的林荫道上，汽车川流不息。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》