Another global battle for 5G has begun! What should China do?

At present, in addition to 5G, another global competition in artificial intelligence has quietly begun. Compared with 5G, the international competition in artificial intelligence will produce greater variables. In this competition, China should adopt a different strategy from 5G.

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The “second echelon” is catching up

2018 is the first year of global competition in artificial intelligence. In this year, Europe, Japan, and India have successively released national strategies for artificial intelligence. In April 2018, the European Commission released an action plan for artificial intelligence, aiming to promote investment in the field of artificial intelligence in the region in two stages and compete for the leading position in the industry. In June 2018, Japan released the "Future Investment Strategy 2018", focusing on promoting the construction of the Internet of Things and the application of artificial intelligence. In June 2018, India issued the "National Artificial Intelligence Strategy", seeking artificial intelligence deployment solutions suitable for developing countries, which can be replicated and promoted in other countries. These strategies indicate that the catch-up of the "second echelon" of global artificial intelligence is accelerating.

At the beginning of 2019, the United States immediately launched two major strategic deployments for artificial intelligence after resolving the government shutdown crisis. On February 11, President Trump signed an executive order to "maintain the United States' leadership in artificial intelligence," officially launching the U.S. national artificial intelligence plan. The plan requires the federal government to concentrate scientific research resources, share government facilities, and strengthen talent training. A day later, the U.S. Department of Defense released the "Artificial Intelligence Strategy," which will accelerate the application of artificial intelligence in the field of U.S. military security. The release of the two strategies by the United States has undoubtedly intensified the global competition in artificial intelligence, and may even turn this industrial competition into an arms race.

Significantly different from 5G competition

International competition in artificial intelligence is significantly different from 5G in two aspects.

The biggest difference is that there are more countries and non-state actors participating in the competition, and their interests are more complicated. In the 5G field, several telecom equipment giants are the main competitors, and most countries can only be spectators of the competition. In the field of artificial intelligence, the gap between countries is not large. In addition to large enterprises, scientific research institutions and academic researchers are the dominant forces in the field of artificial intelligence. This makes it important not only to create advantages as soon as possible in the development of artificial intelligence, but also to establish a sustainable development environment.

Second, the rules and technical standards for AI have not yet been formed, and the rules lack universal binding force. This increases the social and security risks that may arise in the development of AI, and whether these risks can be better handled will determine the success of a country's AI industry.

Based on these two differences, in the era of global competition, China needs to focus on the inclusiveness of the artificial intelligence industry and the shaping of the development environment, strive for cooperation in competition, and balance security in development.

Interdependence will become a trend

Specifically, first of all, China needs to pay more attention to the construction of basic science related to artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence is a comprehensive science based on multiple basic disciplines such as mathematics, machine algorithms, semiconductors, and communication. It is difficult for a country to develop artificial intelligence alone, and it needs a strong basic science as support.

Secondly, we should strengthen the construction of scientific research circles and scientific research complexes, and fully guarantee equal treatment for all innovation entities. The competition in artificial intelligence between countries is not only a competition between leading enterprises, but a long-term competition between enterprises, scientific research institutions, and talents of the two countries. If a country has a gap in scientific research talents, even if it can take the lead in the early stage with its first-mover advantage, it is likely to fall behind in the subsequent competition. The key to protecting talent advantages lies in "people-oriented" rather than "capital-oriented", to prevent technology giants from using their market position to squeeze small and medium-sized start-ups and distort the research direction of scientific research institutions.

Third, be prepared for the social and economic impact of AI. Since 2018, the EU, India, the United States and other countries have gradually shifted their focus on AI from promoting technological development to exploring ethical standards and legal rules. For AI, a revolutionary technology, once the impact it brings exceeds the tolerance of the existing society, the side effects it brings will far outweigh its value. The EU and the United States focus on rule-making not only to constrain industry development, but also to establish the international authority of their own rules, ethics and laws as soon as possible.

***, establish comparative advantages and strengthen international cooperation. The AI ​​industry covers too many fields. Even a technological power like the United States cannot seek to be the first in all fields. In the era of globalization, countries will still follow the business model of comparative advantage exchange to form a global AI industry chain of mutual dependence, cooperation and win-win. China should also focus on the development of the AI ​​industry and start industrial cooperation with other major countries as soon as possible. (Text/Li Zheng, scholar of the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations)

(The above comments are the author’s personal opinions and do not represent the position of this website)

Artificial intelligence is entering many areas of life. The picture shows a smart hot pot restaurant in Beijing, where a dish dispenser uses a robotic arm to prepare dishes in a warehouse.