Google Opening AI Research Centre in China

Google has revealed it will be opening the first ever artificial intelligence research centre in Asia located in Beijing.

The announcement was made at its Google Developer Days in Shanghai, the centre will join others around the world including centres in New York, Toronto, London and Zurich.

Fei-Fei Li, chief scientist AI/ML at Google Cloud says in a blog post says the Beijing centre will be supported by a team of AI researchers including herself and Dr Jia Li, Head of Research and Development at Google Cloud AI.

Li says, “Besides publishing its own work, the Google AI China Center will also support the AI research community by funding and sponsoring AI conferences and workshops, and working closely with the vibrant Chinese AI research community. Humanity is going through a huge transformation thanks to the phenomenal growth of computing and digitisation. In just a few years, automatic image classification in photo apps has become a standard feature. And we’re seeing rapid adoption of natural language as an interface with voice assistants like Google Home. At Cloud, we see our enterprise partners using AI to transform their businesses in fascinating ways at an astounding pace. As technology starts to shape human life in more profound ways, we will need to work together to ensure that the AI of tomorrow benefits all of us.”

Chinese officials have been pushing for AI research but strict laws have hindered their efforts.