Song Haitao: A Source of Global AI Innovation—The Shanghai Path for Empowering the Construction of a National Cyber Power [1]
Swept by the global wave of digitalization, the construction of a cyber superpower [1] faces major challenges such as "chokehold" [2] core technologies and cybersecurity threats. As a new generation of information technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is deeply integrating into every dimension of cyber superpower construction, playing an irreplaceable and core role in breaking through technical blockades and fortifying cybersecurity frontiers. In this important historical process, and to implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on the development of AI, the City of Shanghai and Shanghai Jiao Tong University have jointly established the first municipal-level new-type R&D institution in the field of AI—the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Institute (SAII, hereafter "the Institute").
Based in the "NeoBay" (大零号湾) [3] functional zone for sourcing scientific and technological innovation, the Institute persists in orienting itself toward the frontiers of world science and technology, the main economic battlefield [4], and major national needs. It constructs an AI innovation force characterized by full-chain integration, multi-disciplinary synergy, and broad cross-pollination. It has established a strategic, forward-looking, professional, market-oriented, and internationalized incubation system for tech-enterprises and a paradigm for innovative development, summarized as: "Think tank policy guidance, university innovation sourcing, industry expert leadership, engineering team implementation, and industry-finance ecosystem linkage."
I. Fortifying the Core Technological Foundation of a Cyber Superpower
(1) Multi-field collaborative innovation, expanding the frontiers of technology
In exploring the frontiers of AI and tackling "chokehold" technologies, the Institute utilizes an open philosophy to organically connect the talent chain, innovation chain, and industrial chain, achieving a virtuous cycle of mutual reinforcement between enterprises and universities. Backed by the robust support of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the Institute continuously achieves breakthroughs in key AI technologies. It conducts in-depth research in cutting-edge fields such as humanoid robots, virtual power plants, DNA storage, intelligent bionic vision, all-solid-state batteries, and AIGC (Artificial Intelligence Generated Content) network governance.
By expanding domain boundaries through interdisciplinary research, the Institute continuously explores the application and regulatory issues of Generative AI (GenAI) in networking. It examines regulatory schemes from multiple governments worldwide and investigates the impact of GenAI on production and daily life from industrial and human-collaborative perspectives.
The project "Common Technologies and Applications of Visual Understanding for Intelligent Social Governance," in which the Institute participated, won the Leading Science and Technology Award at the 2024 World Internet Conference. As the chair unit of the CCIA (Cybersecurity Association of China) [5] AI Software and Hardware Ecological Integration Working Group, the Institute deeply integrates cross-disciplinary knowledge and technical resources. It continues to broaden the boundaries of AI technology, nurturing a steady stream of "sparks" for innovation in cyber superpower construction, aimed at igniting a "prairie fire" [6] of network technological transformation.
(2) Empowering the ecosystem through transformation of achievements, driving industrial innovation and upgrading
The Institute is precisely positioned as a key hub for the transformation of technical achievements [7]. By deeply merging the chains of talent, innovation, and industry, it has meticulously crafted a full-chain, high-efficiency industrial ecosystem. It has successfully incubated more than 20 technology enterprises that are exerting strong influence at various critical nodes of AI-empowered cyber superpower construction. Among these, 70% have obtained fund support, and 15% have joined the ranks of unicorns or quasi-unicorns. The total valuation of incubated enterprises exceeds 20 billion RMB, demonstrating the Institute’s excellence in transforming achievements. this injects economic momentum and innovative vitality into cyber superpower construction, stabilizing the industrial foundation and enhancing core competitiveness.
II. Nurturing the Innovation Ecosystem for a Cyber Superpower
(1) Deep integration of industry, academia, research, and application, stimulating endogenous drive for innovation
In collaboration with relevant units, the Institute has released several professional reports related to cybersecurity, such as the Sample Survey Report on the Ecosystem of Online Literature Platforms, the Research Report on Non-standard Character and Word Usage Online, and the Sample Survey Report on the Content Ecosystem of Mobile Browsers, providing think-tank advice for regulating online behavioral security. Joining forces with giants such as Huawei and SenseTime, the Institute focuses on core technologies like domestic computing power, deep learning frameworks, and AI-native operating systems. It established the Shanghai MindSpore Innovation Center to promote the development of domestic AI-native operating systems and technologies, injecting surging AI power into enterprises and nurturing the ecological soil for a cyber superpower, thereby enhancing the security and vitality of the ecosystem.
(2) Advancing with global peers, co-building an international "Circle of Friends"
At the opening ceremony of the 2024 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Global Alliance on Artificial Intelligence for Industry and Manufacturing (GAIIM) Excellence Center (hereafter "Global AI Excellence Center") was officially unveiled and settled at the Institute. This marks a new "AI main force" for Shanghai on its journey toward becoming a scientific and technological innovation center with global influence.
Relying on Shanghai's advantageous scientific innovation resources and industrial chain strengths, the Global AI Excellence Center will be built into an important hub and source of innovation for global AI. It continuously broadens its "circle of friends" [8] of international partners, working with top institutions in countries and regions such as Singapore, Kazakhstan, Brazil, India, Serbia, Chile, and Romania. Together, they address AI challenges and promote the deep integration of cyber superpower construction into the global innovation ecosystem network. This leads the trend of collaborative innovation between global networks and AI, comprehensively enhancing China’s discourse power [9] and influence in the field of integrated AI innovation.
III. Consolidating the Strategic Pillar of Talent for a Cyber Superpower
(1) Elite cultivation of local talent, shaping industrial talent echelons
Developing new quality productive forces requires "strategic talent capable of creating new quality productive forces." With a forward-looking perspective and innovative strategies, the Institute jointly launched an AI talent development plan with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). Together with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, it pioneered China's first AI-MBA program, training a cohort of industrial chain and business talent for AI. This aims to create a high-quality talent system that leads industrial innovation, builds a solid local talent foundation for cyber superpower construction, ensures a stable and smooth talent supply chain, and drives autonomous innovation and sustainable development of core technologies.
(2) International talent cooperation and optimization, building a global talent alliance
Upholding the international talent strategy of "embracing all rivers" (海纳百川), the Institute actively implements the "AI Capacity Building Action Plan" proposed by the state. Relying on the Global AI Excellence Center, it has successively established close cooperation mechanisms and overseas platforms with the United Nations University, Yale University, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the Macau University of Science and Technology, the National University of Singapore, and Nanyang Technological University, aiming to cultivate globalized AI talent. By weaving a global AI talent network, China reinforces its influence in the international talent market, gathering global sages for cyber superpower construction and ensuring that such construction moves forward steadily with global intellectual support.
New quality productive forces—with "innovation" as the core and "high quality" as the key—are accelerating their formation at the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Institute. Relying on the integrated development of frontier AI technologies, disruptive technologies, computing power, and network infrastructure, the Institute integrates new fields and "new tracks" [10] such as vertical large models and general-purpose robots. It continuously shapes new drivers and advantages for development, promotes industrial innovation by solving "real-world problems," and has established a unique path for AI to empower the construction of a cyber superpower.
(The author is the Dean of the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University) Source: Jiefang Daily (解放日报) December 30, 2024 Web Editor: Huihui