Local AI sector prepares for real-world expansion

Guangzhou Summba Information Technology Co Ltd focuses on semantic analysis, a technology capable of not only analyzing the meaning of words but also "understanding" the real demands of a wide range of customers and applications.

Summba introduced an intelligent voice control system in 2016 that could be used in kitchens.

If you uttered the phrase "the fried egg is burning!" the control system would automatically turn up the stove's extractor fan and lower the heat, said Shi Zhongmin, CEO of Summba.

"In the future, AI products will be linked closely to our everyday life, and because of the huge scope of potential applications, machines will need super brains in order to understand the sheer range of language they will be hearing and processing," Shi said.

Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, has placed heavy emphasis on the development of AI, making it one of its three strategic emerging industries. The local government has earmarked an annual fund of up to 50 million yuan ($7.27 million) for AI development, according to the Guangzhou Science Technology and Innovation Commission.

The local government has also supported the city's universities and enterprises in the research and development of AI technology.

The South China University of Technology focuses on the research of intelligent computers used in the automobile, agriculture, security, healthcare and wearable devices industries, among others.

"The development of the artificial intelligence industry needs a core algorithm, as well as cloud computing and big data from various industries", said Du Lan, deputy senior CEO of iFly Tek, a technology company which has operations in Guangzhou.

"Guangzhou, as a city with about 2,000 years of commercial civilization, is very open-minded when it comes to introducing such technology to its industries," she said.

"It has a complete AI industrial chain and a whole host of trained professionals."

China's AI market is expected to be worth 100 billion yuan by 2018, according to the Three-Year Plan (2016-18) for the Artificial Intelligence Industry released by the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Office of the Central Leading Group for Cyberspace Affairs in May 2016.

At this year's two sessions in March, AI was included in the Government Work Report for the first time.