Zhang Hongjiang: China's Pioneer for Safe Artificial Intelligence

Zhang Hongjiang, a renowned computer scientist and executive in the technology sector, has emerged as one of China's leading advocates for the safe development of artificial intelligence (AI). After earning his Ph.D. in Denmark, Zhang gained international experience in Singapore and Palo Alto before returning to China in the early 2000s to help establish Microsoft Research Asia. He later led Kingsoft to become one of China's top software companies. In 2016, he stepped down from Kingsoft and two years later founded the Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence (BAAI), a non-profit organization that bridges industry and academia. In recent years, Zhang has distinguished himself as a prominent advocate for AI regulation in China, ensuring that AI does not pose a threat to humanity. In an interview with the Financial Times, Zhang emphasized the importance of international collaboration on AI safety measures. He warns of the potential existential risks that more powerful AI systems might pose, such as the ability for self-replication and improvement. Zhang stresses the necessity of international cooperation, particularly between China and the United States, to address these global risks. He praises the technical advancements in Europe and the United States, especially the UK's initiative at the international government summit last year. Zhang also discusses the impact of U.S. export controls for processors on the long-term development of AI in China, highlighting the importance of computing power for the scalability and performance of modern AI models. Despite these challenges, he sees China's advantages in young entrepreneurs and the vast amount of data available for certain applications, such as Smart Cities and robotics. Zhang views open AI models, like the Llama models developed by Meta, as highly valuable for academic research. He remains optimistic about AI developments and applications in China, despite the dynamic landscape with many companies active in the field. Zhang remains active in the AI community, enthusiastic about the possibilities offered by large AI models, and continues to organize technical conferences to promote exchange and learning within the AI community.