ChinAI #208: Around the Horn (edition 9)

Greetings from a world where…

Blokus is a brilliant game

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Around the Horn (9th edition)

What better way to start the new year than with an Around the Horn issue of ChinAI. Here’s how it works:

• I give short previews of ten articles related to ChinAI (all published within the past week). For an example, see ChinAI #198.

• Readers choose next week’s feature translation by replying to the email and/or commenting on the post with their favorite article number. *I give a little added weight to votes by subscribers who financially support ChinAI through paid subscriptions.

• The titles of the 10 articles below link to the original source in Chinese.

1) The Power of Seeds

Summary: A look at Huawei’s key role in building AI computing infrastructure, based on the author’s recent visit to the Nanjing Artificial Intelligence Computing Center. A granular look at how Chinese technology companies are working with the Chinese government to build “new infrastructure.”

Source: 机器之能 (jiqizhineng/Synced) — the go-to source for longform articles about China’s AI landscape.

2) The Strength and Dreams of China’s Open Source Pioneers

Summary: Uses Wensong Zhang’s development of the Linux Virtual Server project as an entry point into the history of open-source software in China.

Source: 雷峰网 (Leiphone) — media portal that covers China’s science and tech landscape, with a focus on AI-related happenings.

3) CAICT Big Data White Paper

Summary: The China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) recently released a white paper that reviews China’s big data policies, as well as recent trends in data standardization and security.

Source: 中国信通院 (CAICT) — a think tank under China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

4) The Top Ten Events of Internet Governance in China in 2022

Summary: A review of the past year in Internet Governance in China, structured around ten key events, with comments from experts on each event.

Source: 财经E法 (Caijing ELaw) —portal focused on internet governance under the umbrella of Caijing Magazine, a respected business platform.

5) Chatting on the Internet for a Month, the Romance Scammer (“Pig-Butchering Scammer”) is Actually Defeated by AI

Summary: A “pig-butchering scammer” (someone who implements a long-term scam, often by making someone think they have found the perfect boyfriend or girlfriend) was recently tricked by an AI chatbot built using Inspur’s Yuan 1.0 (a GPT-3-esque model). Video of the screenshots and whole story blew up on the Bilibili site, racking up nearly two million views.

Source: 新智元 (xinzhiyuan) — media portal similar to Leiphone, tend to feature more human-interest stories

6) If You Don’t Buy It, I Won’t Buy It. Graphics Card Shipments Hit a New Low in 20 Years

Summary: Shipments of GPUs (often used to train AI models) have hit a 20-year low. What gives? This piece looks at worrying trends for Nvidia and the performance of Chinese GPU makers.

Source: 量子位 (QbitAI) — news portal that regularly covers AI issues, similar to Leiphone and xinzhiyuan. Lately, QbitAI has been publishing longer reports more frequently.

7) Did Tencent and Sequoia China Go on a Frenzy Overseas in 2022?

Summary: An inventory-taking of Chinese capital investments overseas. Here, “Chinese capital” includes both companies headquartered in China (Tencent) and multinational investment institutions with independent brands in China (Sequoia China).

Source: IT桔子 (IT Juzi) — good source on financing and venture capital in technology fields.

8) The Digital Transformation of Small and Medium-sized Manufacturing Enterprises

Summary: Provides an overview of digitalization in Chinese SMEs, as well as gives insights into Tencent’s policy recommendations on this topic.

Source: 腾讯研究院 (Tencent Research Institute) — Tencent’s policy and governance research arm.

9) Welcome to the “World Cup” of Personal Data Security

Summary: A very technical examination of how Chinese companies are trying to ensure the security of personal data, with key details about Baidu’s efforts.

Source: 脑极体 (naojiti) — a tech media platform based in Tianjin.

10) China’s High-Speed Rail Calling Card Forged by Indigenous Innovation

Summary: This piece addresses two main questions: what exactly is so indigenous/independent about China’s high speed rail? Second, what is so innovative?

Source: 瞭望 (Outlook Magazine) — a state-run publication written for Communist Party bureaucrats and policy makers. Previously translated an investigative report by Outlook on wasted chip investments (ChinAI #118).

Thank you for reading and engaging.

These are Jeff Ding's (sometimes) weekly translations of Chinese-language musings on AI and related topics. Jeff is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at George Washington University.

Check out the archive of all past issues here & please subscribe here to support ChinAI under a Guardian/Wikipedia-style tipping model (everyone gets the same content but those who can pay for a subscription will support access for all).

Any suggestions or feedback? Let me know at chinainewsletter@gmail.com or on Twitter at @jjding99