China's AI Plus Initiative is gaining momentum as over 30 large-scale AI models, developed by Chinese and international teams, were unveiled at the 2024 World AI Conference (WAIC), demonstrating their ability to perform a wide range of tasks from restoring ancient texts to generating videos.
Themed "Governing AI for Good and for All", the three-day WAIC, which opened Thursday, drew to it government officials and representatives of international organizations, industries, universities and research institutes, among others.
The event saw the display of the latest AI applications in a range of areas such as medical consultation, video generation and text restoration.
AI models have already been integrated in a variety of scenarios. For example, one AI-powered smart assistant at one exhibition booth, so far being applied to over ten scenarios, can help users hail a car or even provide medical consultations just with a voice command.
"This is an intelligent assistant developed based on our self-developed large-scale AI model. We have already integrated it into medical scenarios. Users can use it to make an appointment before a consultation. The assistant also provides medication guidance after the consultation, significantly reducing the workload of medical personnel," said Pan Feifei, an exhibitor.
AI-powered text-to-video and image-to-video generators have been highly advanced, with impressive levels of video clarity, realism and smoothness.
"We have seen a significant improvement in the visual quality, video length and motion coherence of videos generated by our model. This will greatly lower the threshold for video production," said Zhang Di, head of a large-scale AI model team.
In addition to enhancing life and work, AI has also been employed to restore ancient texts discovered in the Mogao Grottoes of northwest China's Dunhuang, which date back tens of centuries.
A simple touch on the tablet would activate the AI model to accurately and promptly position and restore the damaged parts of the ancient texts.
"We can now achieve an accurate restoration of ancient texts using AI to analyze the styles, backgrounds, and brushwork of vast amounts of ancient texts. Currently, AI-driven text restoration technology is not only used in archaeological fields but has also been widely applied by the public to repair damaged documents," said Liu Chen, an exhibitor.
Data show that as of the end of April, more than 300 large language models had been launched in China, while the number of models with more than one billion parameters had exceeded 100, covering a wide range of fields, including electronic information, medical care and transportation.
China's versatile large-scale AI models showcased at WAIC
With over a million followers on social media, French influencer Greg is dedicated to showcasing modern life and culture in China, inviting viewers to experience the country firsthand.
Currently based in Shanghai, Greg leverages his platform to share everything from delectable Chinese cuisine to popular trends, often featuring creative videos such as "Living a day in Shanghai on 100 yuan" and "How many Chinese cities can you visit in a day?"
Greg's connection to China dates back 16 years to when he was a 25-year-old student at a university in France. As graduation approached, he had the opportunity to study abroad and chose China among various options. Upon arriving in China, he quickly envisioned a future in the country and became determined to secure a steady job.
His journey took a significant turn during the Expo 2010 Shanghai China, where he worked as a translator for several travel agencies. His outstanding performance during the event led to an opportunity with a multinational wine trading company, where he served as the marketing director.
"Being a foreigner who speaks Chinese opened up numerous job opportunities for me. Every day has felt like a new adventure. Each day has felt different, and I was discovering new things every day. Even now, in 2024, I still feel this way," he said.
Initially, Greg produced informative videos in his spare time while working in the wine industry. His strong desire for self-expression and creativity attracted a significant following, fueling his inspiration for more content.
"I focus on creating optimistic videos. Because in my mind, China is a place full of optimism and happiness. You can experience anything you want here. You just need to create your own opportunities. I really like this kind of life," he said.
In 2022, after 12 years in the wine industry, he transitioned to full-time content creation. This shift was motivated by his love for the profession and a realization he had during a visit to France two years prior, where he discovered a widespread lack of understanding about China.
"I often complain about how inconvenient things are in France. For example, every time I go out, I forget my wallet, but in China, we don't need a wallet. Everything can be done through our phones. When we want to go shopping in France, we have to line up at the checkout and take all the stuff back home all by ourselves. I told my French countrymates, 'You know what? In China, people can use apps to order takeout, and it can be delivered within half an hour,'" he said.
Greg has made it his mission to create videos that highlight the aspects of China he loves, sharing these stories with audiences in France and around the world.
"People in France like China a lot now because of the videos I post," he said proudly.
He also emphasizes the need for a real-life experience to truly understand China.
"Watching videos is not enough. You have to come and see for yourself. Five hundred videos are nothing when compared to spending just 24 hours in Shanghai. It's only when you experience that you'll truly understand what China is all about. I wholeheartedly invite everyone to visit China, and I hope my videos inspire them to do that," he said.
French influencer promotes China's allure through social media
