China urges AI elites to unite in ‘global village’ – despite background of US-China trade war
Heavyweights in artificial intelligence gather in Shanghai to look at technologies promising to revolutionise everything from health care to driving to policing.
Artificial intelligence needs to be viewed as an economic game-changer, whose benefits can be shared and potential problems solved globally, Chinese vice-premiere Liu He told a gathering of AI elites in Shanghai on Monday.
His conciliatory speech was delivered amid a mounting US-China trade war and heated rhetoric from China-wary US President Donald Trump.
But the highly influential Chinese leader urged major AI players to see beyond traditional national borders.
“As members of a global village, I hope countries can show inclusive understanding and respect to each other, deal with the double-sword technologies can bring, and embrace AI together,” said Liu, who has been China’s top trade negotiator in the US-China trade war and is also on the country’s technology development committee.
China is developing AI in an “open environment” and encourages companies across the world to actively get involved in the “immense market” and form intensive collaborations at the corporate and research institute level, he added.
The star-studded World Artificial Intelligence Conference, which lasts until Wednesday, comes as China has emerged as one of the world’s top players in AI, which promises to revolutionise everything from health care to driving to policing.