Introduction

On May 20, during the F-Dialogue event “Empowering AI, Insights into New Business Opportunities” at the China Europe International Business School, Song Haitao, director of the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Research Institute, concluded his nearly hour-long presentation with a video of Qian Xuesen, a renowned scientist. The audience responded with enthusiastic applause.

The Core of New Productive Forces

Song Haitao, a scientist with years of experience in artificial intelligence, shared compelling data on human civilization. He noted that from the beginning of agricultural civilization to the first industrial revolution, humanity experienced a long developmental period. However, in the last two to three hundred years, the rate of technological advancement has sharply increased. Over the past 1,800 years, the global economy grew only about six times; in the last two hundred years, despite a less than tenfold increase in effective population, the global economy expanded nearly two hundred times.

“The biggest variable here is the technology multiplier,” he emphasized, stating that the core of new productive forces lies in new technologies.

The Current State of AI in China

Addressing the current state of artificial intelligence, he candidly acknowledged the existing gap with the United States. “Is there a gap with the U.S.? Yes, but I am aware of it,” he said. He calculated that while the U.S. started developing operating systems 20 to 30 years before China, both countries began their AI journeys around the same time. He pointed out that in the development of large models, China is currently closing the gap at a rate of over 20% per year.

When asked about the differences between the new version of DeepSeek and top U.S. models, he stated, “The gap is not the most important thing. What matters is our current research environment, educational environment, and the entrepreneurial environment that allows students and scientists to develop independent thoughts. We are no longer just following and catching up; we are starting to redefine and pose new questions, which is our greatest strength.”

The Future of AI Talent in Shanghai

Looking ahead, he expressed concern over the talent shortage in Shanghai. “By 2025, 394 large-scale AI enterprises in Shanghai are expected to achieve an industrial scale exceeding 637 billion yuan, with double-digit growth. We currently have 370,000 talents, but by the end of this year, we will need at least 800,000—half of that is a shortfall.”

He elaborated that behind every technical talent, there might be ten engineers and a hundred business implementers needed. The development of the industrial chain radiates outward, becoming broader as it extends.

Achievements and International Recognition

Song highlighted several initiatives that Shanghai has undertaken in recent years, including establishing the first provincial-level AI regulations in the country, creating the first large model innovation ecosystem community in just 38 days, and hosting the WAIC World Artificial Intelligence Conference for eight consecutive years. He also noted the establishment of the first global AI governance coordination organization under the United Nations framework in Shanghai.

Reflecting on his recent trip to Spain for a UN meeting, he shared that representatives from various countries listened intently when he spoke. He observed that many senior officials from Central Asian countries had studied in China or the U.S., indicating a global recognition of AI’s importance.

The New Phase of Talent-Driven Development

Looking to the future, Song made a significant prediction: “Thirty years ago, we exported products; fifteen years ago, we exported technology; now we are entering a talent-driven phase.”

He provided examples of successful individuals in the AI sector, noting that the former director of Meta’s FAIR team had a new company valued at $4 billion, and a young developer from Alibaba’s Tongyi Qianwen had a valuation exceeding $2 billion even before registering the company.

“In the AI era, relying solely on land, energy, and population advantages is no longer sufficient. A small number of highly knowledgeable individuals can leverage immense social value and wealth.”

China’s Role in Global AI Governance

When discussing China’s role in global AI governance, Song stated, “The U.S. prioritizes innovation, the EU prioritizes safety and rights protection, while we balance development and safety.”

He emphasized the open-source and free nature of DeepSeek, calling it the first fully open-source and globally influential large model in China. “We advocate for technology to be inclusive and serve all humanity—this is not just a slogan; we are genuinely working on it.”

Song revealed that the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Research Institute has engaged in exchanges and collaborations with nearly 40 countries and regions, signing cooperative agreements with about 20 of them to build an international cooperative innovation network centered on AI.

Conclusion

In closing, he reiterated the importance of systemic development in international markets. He cited Brazil as an example, where advanced Chinese AI cloud computing began serving the market last year, creating new business opportunities for Chinese enterprises globally.

As the video of Qian Xuesen played, his voice resonated with determination: “What foreigners can do, we can do too. You represent the future; keep moving forward and never stop exploring.” Song concluded, “Our journey should also be towards the stars and the sea.”