The Plan
National Goals, Local Implementation
In July 2017, the State Council’s New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan set a bold headline goal: make China “the world’s primary AI innovation center” by 2030. But the plan didn’t present a detailed roadmap for achieving that goal, something that would be impossible for promoting an omni-use technology like AI.The Companies
Instead, the headline goal acted as a high-profile signal to local government officials—mayors, university presidents, provincial transportation chiefs, etc.—that they would be rewarded for promoting AI in their jurisdiction. Those officials are responding by procuring AI products, subsidizing AI companies, and adapting both infrastructure and policies to promote the technology.
Though the national plan called for both commercial applications and fundamental research breakthroughs, these local projects have thus far focused heavily on pushing specific AI applications rather than advancing fundamental research in which the US clearly leads....MORE
Entrepreneurship and innovation are strongly correlated in China’s AI ecosystem. While many of its traditional industries remain dominated by state-owned enterprises, China’s AI landscape is composed of a vibrant mix of private technology giants, AI startups, and venture capital investors (both private and state-backed).
The alliances and rivalries connecting these players will shape China’s AI landscape for years to come. This web of relationships is complex, which is why we’ve curated a list of China’s top AI-related companies in the interactive feature below....MORE
| Company | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 100 Credit | AI Startup | 100 Credit develops products and services to help financial institutions to manage the lending process throughout the life cycle of a loan. In addition, it helps insurance companies to determine precision pricing and customize products, among others. |
| Ahi Fintech | AI Startup | Ahi Fintech specializes in integrating human expertise with big data to manage and mitigate financial risks. Its products have been applied to areas including banking fraud, credit security, and anti-money laundering, among others. |
| Alibaba | Tech Giant | Alibaba is a conglomerate spanning e-commerce, retail, and cloud computing, among other business units. Its AI-powered payments affiliate company, Ant Financial, is the world's most valuable fintech unicorn with a valuation of $150 billion as of November 2018. Alibaba went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 2014, raising $22 billion. |
| Baidu | Tech Giant | Baidu specializes in internet-related services with a focus on search. The company launched an open AI platform for developers and another open platform named Baidu Apollo for autonomous driving. The company went public on NASDAQ in 2005. |
| BAIFENDIAN | AI Startup | BAIFENDIAN offers integrated and optimized solutions for e-commerce customers, such as industry leader JD.com, by leveraging in-site traffic and business intelligence analysis. The company helps businesses better target customers by providing insight on their behaviors and brand recognition. |
| Bitmain | AI Startup | Bitmain is the largest manufacturer of chips used for cryptocurrency mining, but has begun branching out into manufacturing specialized ASIC chips tailored for AI. In October 2017, it released its first AI product, the Sophon BM1680. Bitmain’s founder estimates that within five years, 40% of the company’s revenue will come from AI chips. As of November 2018, Bitmain is in the process of listing in Hong Kong. |
| Bytedance | Tech Giant | Bytedance employs AI algorithms to personalize content recommendations for users. Products of the company, such as Douyin and Toutiao, are among the most popular content platforms in China. Douyin has even made some inroads in the global market under the brand TikTok. The company’s valuation stands at $75 billion, on par with Uber, and is planning an IPO as early as 2019. |
| Cambricon | AI Startup | Cambricon specializes in building AI chips that power deep learning algorithms on edge devices (those that intake data, such as cameras or smartphones). It was founded by two brothers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences before being spun out into its own company. In early 2018, the company licensed its intellectual property to Huawei to help the latter build AI-enabled smartphones. |
| Cloudminds | AI Startup | Cloudminds offers cloud-based operating systems for humanoid robots. It focuses on creating advanced AI engines in the cloud that enable intelligent robots on the ground. |
| Cloudwalk | AI Startup | Cloudwalk is a computer vision startup that develops facial recognition technologies and biometric systems. The company has supplied its products and technology solutions to over 100 financial institutions and public security bureaus. |
...MUCH MORE
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