China is becoming a global hub for AI technology advancement. This was evident at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) Shanghai 2024 in Shanghai recently. China's AI and telecommunications services are as innovative and unique as ever. It is becoming increasingly probable that a significant proportion of the next generation of AI business ideas will originate from China.
China's endeavors to develop its large-scale language models (LLMs) are particularly noteworthy. Due to the U.S.-China conflict, China has been focusing on developing its own open-source AI models. This has led to the development of original AI services. This move heralds China's entry into the mainstream of the AI era.
In the past mobile era, South Korea has been a leader in new business ideas. Korean webtoons, delivery apps, emojis, chats, and social media services have been highly successful in the global market. Now, in the AI era, China is emerging as a potential leader. In my experience, Chinese AI services have demonstrated not only technological innovation but also new business ideas centered on user experience.
The on-device AI announced by Honor, a Chinese smartphone manufacturer, was a particular highlight. Honor has introduced AI defocus eye protection, which addresses the issue of nearsightedness in the population due to the increasing time spent on smartphones. This solution is centered on the user, with the aim of improving their visual health. This AI feature automatically adjusts the screen to protect the user's eyes when using a smartphone. It is notable that a service of this nature employs AI to consider user health.
However, it is important to note that there are inherent limitations to the Chinese approach. The Chinese government's robust state surveillance regime and privacy concerns could impede the global expansion of AI services. Conversely, Chinese innovations may give rise to concerns about user privacy, which will be a significant factor in determining the long-term viability of Chinese AI businesses.
Nonetheless, China's AI rollout remains robust. New business models based on AI technologies and services will continue to emerge. It will be interesting to see how China's AI innovation develops in the future. This is an important trend that will affect the global AI industry as a whole, not just within China.
China is making rapid progress in AI technology and business idea generation. While privacy concerns persist, failing to consider Chinese AI innovations could result in missing out on significant future trends. The age of AI is here, and it's crucial to anticipate how Chinese AI business models will impact the global market.
