GUI hosts talks on artificial general intelligence

Guests conduct a lively discussion on AGI at the second session of the GUI Tech Talks. [Photo/WeChat account: gh_da57a4eb9d4e]

The Grand Union of Innovation, or GUI – a local technology hub – hosted the second session of its popular science salon series GUI Tech Talks on Dec 11 in Hefei, capital of East China's Anhui province.

This focused on the hot topic of artificial general intelligence, which is known for short as AGI.

The event invited AI experts and academics to share their views on the opportunities and challenges, as well as the present and future of AGI.

Guests discussed such topics as the history and development of AI, the achievements and risks of large cognitive models, the impact of AGI on companies and industries and the integration of AI and quantum computing.

Zhang Junping, a professor from the School of Computer Science of Fudan University, gave a comprehensive overview of the evolution of AI from its inception to its third wave of popularity in 2012.

Li Xin, deputy head of the iFlytek AI Lab, highlighted the expectations and requirements for large models with more intelligence and credibility.

Li Chunxiao, special associate professor of the School of Science and Technology Business of the University of Science and Technology of China, discussed how AGI is transforming the core competitiveness, productivity and production relations of enterprises in the digital era.

Su Dongjun, vice-chairman of the China Electronics Enterprises Association, stressed the need for constant innovation, ecosystem building, public and shared infrastructure platforms, and government support for AI industry development.

The event aimed to promote scientific know-how and to project the latest trends in AGI, as well as to help Anhui advance in the AGI era.

Anhui ranks sixth in China in the national AI industry development index, according to a CCID Think Tank report.

The province has also launched a three-year action plan to boost AGI innovation and development – aiming to achieve leading computing power, data, models and applications by 2025.

The event's organizers say that GUI will continue to hold the GUI Tech Talks series, focusing on Anhui's leading industries and fields. It will invite industry leaders to conduct dialogues and provide resource platforms for various stakeholders, to boost the province's scientific and technological innovation.