(Photo/CGTN)
China's Internet technology has expanded by leaps and bounds in 2017. And with just one day until the fourth World Internet Conference opens in the eastern Chinese town of Wuzhen, CGTN is going over four top trends that have moved from the realm of science fiction to real life.[Special coverage]
AI on the rise
China was late to embrace AI technologies, but the country was quick to emerge as a leading force in the sector. The wealth of data China possesses, especially from its mobile Internet industry, has given it an edge in the race and an advantage for research and development.
"We're getting into the AI revolution and China has a chance to lead not only in parts manufacturing but also in technology and research," Zhang Yaqin, president of China's tech giant Baidu, told CGTN on the sidelines of Summer Davos in June.
Last month, China's Ministry of Science and Technology identified four domestic tech companies, namely Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent and iFlyTek, as the "national team" to boost the development of AI technology in the country.
By building open innovation platforms in four different fields, the four tech giants are expected to help China reach its goal of creating a world-leading domestic AI industry by 2030.
Facial recognition in everyday life
Facial recognition technology has become a part of daily life in China, and examples are countless – from paying for food at fast food restaurants to catching criminals attending beer festivals.
During the National Day holiday from October 1 to October 8 this year, the average daily trips at Guangzhou South Railway Station, the busiest in southwest China, reached half a million. But thanks to facial recognition, ticket checking became a simple process.
