New AI alliance to foster open-source tech network

An artificial intelligence open alliance was inaugurated recently in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, marking a significant step to pool resources for AI innovation and application.

The alliance, initiated by 17 leading universities along with eight major technology companies and research institutions, was constituted under the guidance of the Ministry of Education's department of science, technology and informatization.

The founding institutions include Tsinghua, Peking, Shanghai Jiao Tong, Zhejiang universities as well as Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications. The alliance's secretariat is based at Tsinghua University.

Designed as an international, open and nonprofit strategic collaboration platform, the alliance aims to undertake major national AI research tasks, build an independent and manageable AI infrastructure system, cultivate high-level AI talent, promote AI applications in education and other fields, and foster an open-source AI technology community.

To advance these goals, the alliance will focus on transforming education and teaching models, building a new talent cultivation system, organizing cutting-edge technology research, developing autonomous infrastructure, and promoting international exchanges.

Five specialized committees have been established, led by Tsinghua University, Peking University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. The committees will focus on AI in education and scientific research, foundational AI engineering, AI ethics and governance, and international AI cooperation.

Li Luming, president of Tsinghua University and chair of the alliance, said the formation of the alliance is a major move to serve national strategic needs and secure a leading position in AI development.

The alliance brings together 25 inaugural members, including 17 top research universities. It also includes three national innovation-focused institutions and five leading technology companies, including Huawei and Tencent.

"We have gathered China's finest educational resources, cutting-edge research capabilities and dynamic industry players to form a united force," Li said.

The alliance will focus on three key missions: pioneering original innovation, promoting international cooperation, and supporting the "AI Plus" initiative, particularly in education and scientific research, he added.

"We must break down barriers between universities and enterprises," Li said.

"Universities contribute data and application scenarios, while companies provide computing power and models. We need to integrate these resources."

Another priority is bridging the "last mile" between research and real-world application. Research cannot remain confined to academic papers but must be applied in classrooms and laboratories, he said.

Looking ahead, Li outlined three major initiatives: building an "educational AI network" to promote broader use of domestic computing power in education; developing ethical guidelines and governance frameworks to ensure safe and responsible AI development; and enhancing China's role in global AI governance through international platforms and contributions to standardization.