Chinese firms confident at World AI Conference despite US sanctions

Despite US sanctions limiting access to advanced chips, executives like Huawei’s Zhang Ping’an and Iflytek’s Liu Qingfeng expressed confidence in China’s AI sector, advocating for innovation in cloud computing and the development of domestically controlled AI models.
City, Urban, Architecture, Building, Tower, Flag, Office Building, China Flag

Chinese tech companies, from industry giants to ambitious startups, converged at the World AI Conference in Shanghai to showcase their latest innovations and express strong support for the country’s AI sector despite US sanctions. Over 150 AI-related products and solutions are being exhibited, with notable foreign firms like Tesla and Qualcomm also participating. SenseTime, previously known for facial recognition, unveiled its most advanced large language model, SenseNova 5.5, positioning it as a rival to OpenAI’s GPT-4.

Despite challenges posed by US sanctions limiting access to advanced chips, executives at the conference expressed confidence in China’s AI sector’s resilience. Zhang Ping’an, head of Huawei’s cloud computing unit, emphasised the need to innovate in cloud computing to overcome chip shortages. Similarly, Liu Qingfeng, chairman of Iflytek, highlighted that Chinese-developed large language models could rival global standards, stressing the importance of having independently developed and controlled AI technologies.

Robin Li, CEO of Baidu, urged the AI industry to focus on practical applications rather than just developing large language models, which require significant computing power and AI chips. Li stressed that foundational models, whether open-source or closed-source, only hold value with applications. Such a sentiment was echoed by other industry leaders, emphasising the need for innovation and practical use cases in AI development.