A CULTURE OF COLLABORATION

The report of China’s AI research community is, in some ways, easy to gauge. A report from the White House in October 2016 noted that China now publishes more journal articles on deep learning than the US, while AI-related patent submissions from Chinese Have increased 200 percent in recent years. The clout of the Chinese AI community is such that at the beginning of the year, the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence rescheduled the date of its annual meeting; the original had fallen on Chinese New Year.

What is trickier, though, is knowing how their numbers translate to scientific achievement. Paul Scharre, a researcher at the think tank Center for a New American Security, is skeptical about statistics. “You can count the number of papers, but that’s sort of the Worst the possible metric, because it does not tell you anything about quality, “he says.” At the moment, the real cutting-edge research is still being done by college like Google Brain, OpenAI, and DeepMind.

In China, though, there is more collaboration between firms like and universities and government – something that could be beneficial in the long term. Scott’s Malong Technologies runs a joint research lab with Tsinghua University, and there are much larger partnerships like the “national Laboratory for deep learning “run by Baidu and the Chinese government’s National Development and Reform agency.

It is not too easy on gauge, but is difficult to gauge. Scott, who started working in machine learning 10 years ago with Microsoft, suggesting that China has a strong AI community. “I think there is a bit more emphasis on [personal] Quot; he says, adding that China’s ubiquitous messaging app WeChat is a rich resource, with chat groups centered about universities and companies sharing and discussing new research. “The AI ​​communities are very, very alive,” he says. “I would say That WeChat as a vehicle for spreading information is highly effective.

REMEMBER: THE GOVERNMENT HELPED MAKE THE INTERNET

What most worries Scharre is the US government’s current plans to retreat from basic science. The Trump administration’s proposed budget would have slash funding for research, taking money away from a number of members whose work can involve AI. “Clearly [Washington does not] have Any strategic plan to revitalize American investment in science and technology, “Scharre tells  The Verge .” I am deep troubled by the range of cuts that the Trump administration is planning. I think they’re alarming and counterproductive.

The previous administration was aware of the dangers and potential of artificial intelligence. Two reports published by the Obama White house late last year spelled out the need to invest in AI, as well as touching on topics like regulation and the labor market. The potential to be a major driver of economic growth and social progress, “said the October report, noting that” public- and private-sector investments in basic and applied R & D on AI have already begun reaping major benefits.

In the ways, China’s July policy paper on AI mirrors this one, but China did not just go through a dramatic political upheaval that threatens to change its course. The Chinese policy paper says that by 2020 it wants to be on par with the world’s Finest; by 2025 AI should be the primary driver for Chinese industry; and by 2030, it should “occupy the commanding heights of AI technology.” According to a recent report from  The  Economist,  having the high ground will pay off, with consultancy firm PwC predicting that AI-related growth will lift the global economy by $ 16 trillion by 2030 – with half of that benefit landing in China.