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Can artificial intelligence go further in the lab in 2018?
In 2017, the artificial intelligence (AI) industry was dubbed the "year of application." Could 2018 mark a further leap forward? This computing-driven innovation is gradually making its way into people’s daily lives. Today, AI has even begun to expand beyond national borders. Take Alibaba Cloud's "City Brain" as an example—this initiative represents not only a promising start but also a great opportunity for the deep integration of AI with the real economy and large-scale innovative applications.
Just after 2017, which was called the "year of application" for AI development, the field saw major breakthroughs. From AlphaGo defeating human champions to the opening of unmanned supermarkets and the continued progress of self-driving cars, AI became the star of daily news. However, despite these achievements, there is still a long road ahead before AI can truly become a part of everyday life.
As we say goodbye to 2017’s "Application Year," the question remains: can 2018 bring another step forward, potentially leading to an industrial breakthrough?
Not long ago, at an event hosted by the Institute of Automation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Pan Yunhe, head of the National New Generation Artificial Intelligence Strategy Advisory Committee and former vice president of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, introduced the concept of "Artificial Intelligence 2.0." He stated that after more than 60 years of development, AI has become a powerful engine driving the next technological and industrial revolution. It is now moving toward AI 2.0, a new generation of AI that develops based on major changes in the information environment and sets new goals for intelligent systems.
Behind this transformation are factors such as the popularity of the internet and mobile devices, the expansion of sensor networks, the rise of big data, and the emergence of online communities. These developments have created a demand for intelligent solutions across various sectors, from smart cities and economies to manufacturing, healthcare, home automation, and transportation.
Correspondingly, the government has launched a series of policies to support AI development. In July last year, the State Council released the "New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan," marking the official start of a new era in AI. The launch of major science and technology projects in November of the same year further emphasized the importance of AI in the national strategy.
At the meeting, the first batch of national new generation AI open innovation platforms were announced. These include Baidu's autonomous driving platform, Alibaba Cloud's City Brain, Tencent's medical imaging platform, and Keda Xunfei's smart voice platform. These initiatives are seen as a key move in China's AI strategy, signaling that the country's AI industry is gaining momentum. This computing-led innovation, though technically advanced, is now reaching everyday life and integrating with traditional industries, aiming to boost productivity and improve service quality.
Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang emphasized the need to strengthen the role of enterprises in AI development, ensuring that they lead in technical choices and setting industry standards. The goal is to promote the deep integration of AI with the real economy, driving the growth of an intelligent economy and society.
Many tech companies have already started applying AI in real-world scenarios. For example, Alibaba Cloud's City Brain was introduced in Hangzhou in 2016, using AI to optimize urban infrastructure. In just one year, the system managed 128 traffic lights, reducing travel time by 15.3% in pilot areas and saving 4.6 minutes on elevated roads. In the city center, the system detected over 500 incidents daily with 92% accuracy, while in Xiaoshan, ambulance response times were cut in half.
This technology has now gone international. On January 29, Malaysia announced the adoption of Alibaba Cloud's City Brain, aiming to apply AI to 281 traffic intersections in Kuala Lumpur. The system will help reduce congestion and create “green channels†for emergency vehicles during critical situations.
Hu Xiaoming, an AI expert and president of Alibaba Cloud, believes that past industrial revolutions were driven by the fusion of technology and industry, leading to economic and social changes. Today’s AI is no different. He argues that AI could deliver greater technological dividends than the Internet and will deeply integrate into primary and secondary industries. Compared to other countries, China's AI sector has significant potential.
While the U.S. benefits from strong foundational infrastructure, semiconductor advancements, and a robust software ecosystem—such as NVIDIA's GPU systems and Intel's programmable chips—China's strength lies in the practical implementation of AI in vertical industries like urban planning, manufacturing, retail, finance, automotive, and home automation.
Pan Yunhe emphasized the importance of an open mindset when considering AI development. He pointed out that AI is not a competition between humans and machines, but rather a challenge for people. In an AI-driven environment, some jobs may change, but none will be entirely lost. With many developed nations already investing heavily in AI, China is not just following—it is leading the way.