China's AI Plans (via Phil Midland)

["Dave Farber" <farber () gmail com>]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Mark" <mark () tmtstrategies com>
> Date: March 12, 2017 at 10:05:31 AM EDT
> To: "Dave" <dave () farber net>
> Subject: DL- China's AI Plans (via Phil Midland)
> Reply-To: dl () listbox com
>
> http://www.scmp.com/tech/article/2078209/beijing-release-national-artificial-intelligence-development-plan
>
>
>
> Beijing to release national artificial intelligence development plan
>
>  
> PUBLISHED : Sunday, 12 March, 2017, 6:17pm
> UPDATED : Sunday, 12 March, 2017, 6:23pm
>
> Beijing is drafting a national development plan on artificial intelligence and setting up a special fund as part of 
> an effort to push the technology’s application in the economy and national security, said China’s top technology 
> official.
>
> Wan Gang, the minister of science and technology, said that the plan, which aims to facilitate the adoption of the 
> technology in a wide range of areas, including “economy, social welfare, environmental protection and national 
> security”, is expected to be released soon after the National People’s Congress and Chinese People’s Political 
> Consultative Conference, the annual meeting of China’s parliament, which will end on Wednesday.
>
> “In the meantime, the central government will set up a special fund for the fundamental research and core 
> technologies [of artificial intelligence],” Wan said at a press conference on the sidelines of the ongoing Two 
> Sessions on Saturday, without disclosing the size of the fund.
>
> Wan’s comments on AI comes amid calls by some of China’s most influential business and technology leaders to make the 
> technology a priority on the government’s agenda.
>
>
>
> From the founder of the largest Chinese internet search engine Baidu, the owner of smartphone maker Xiaomi, and the 
> founder of Geely Automobile, which bought Volvo, business tycoons who meet in Beijing this week for the Two Sessions 
> are calling for government to lead the charge in getting Chinese enterprises to collaborate on AI research, and 
> facilitate the industrialising of the technology as they see there is a big chance for China to surpass the United 
> States as a global superpower on AI.
>
> The future is here: China sounds a clarion call on AI funding, policies to surpass US
>
> However, one analyst said Beijing’s expressed support for AI was unlikely to result in significant financial backing 
> for the sector because central government resources had already been committed to helping a wide range of special 
> interests, including special funds that back poverty alleviation to environmental protections initiatives.
>
> Moreover, the emerging sector could require years before technologies are ready to be commercialised.
>
> Larry Cao, director of content for the CFA Institute, warned that research and development and commercialisation of 
> AI involve high risk and should be considered long term investments.
>
> “China will enjoy an edge in this competitive field, if government can provide strong support in funding,” Cao said 
> in a research note on Friday.
>
>
>
> Venture capital funding is another source of support for the sector. In terms of countries, the US is the global 
> leader having raised US$8.1 billion for startups in the sector to date, according to market research firm Venture 
> Scanner, which tracks AI funding in more than 70 countries. China ranks No 2 globally, with US$1.1 billion raised, 
> while the rest of the world combined amounts US$3.1 billion in funding to date.
>
> Luminaries from the technology sector including Robin Li Yanhong, founder of the Chinese internet search engine 
> Baidu, and Lei Jun, owner of smartphone maker Xiaomi, met with senior officials in Beijing last week to urge the 
> government to provide support for the development and industrialisation of AI technology.
>
>
>  
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