Shanghai to develop AI technologies and applications as a "strategic choice"

Shanghai will develop artificial intelligence technologies and applications as a "strategic choice" to help the city in its industrial upgrading and will unveil specific action plans to integrate with the real economy, Vice Mayor Zhou Bo pledged yesterday.

The local government sees data research and development as vitally important and will strengthen the applications of AI technologies in manufacturing, finance and pharmaceuticals, Zhou said at the three-day World Artificial Intelligence Conference 2018 in Shanghai.

Zhou said that the city will roll out specific action plans during this year’s AI event and increase support to the industry and promote industrial clusters.

Wang Weiming, deputy head of the department of science and technology of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, pointed out that China has made great leaps in research and development of core AI technologies, innovative applications of AI and industrial agglomeration.

Wang added that the AI sector has generated over 220 billion yuan (US$31.98 billion) for relevant industries during the past few years.