EAI senior research fellow Lance Gore believes that a new wave of socialist realism is surfacing from the capitalists of Silicon Valley, the bastion of capitalism. This form of socialist realism is characterised by a complete rejection of the old socialism and a belief in efficiency as the source of common prosperity. China can learn from Silicon Valley socialism; it is high time for China to shift into new socialism based on China’s realities under the guidance of “first principles”.
Artificial Intelligence
Economy
In part two of his article taking stock of the Chinese economy and assessing bright spots and challenges in 2024, Chinese economist Yao Yang focuses on the key factors of increasing investment without distinguishing between foreign and domestic capital, and the inability of the US to limit China’s technological development.
Technology
The prospect of driverless cars on the roads still seems futuristic, but the potential rewards are too enticing to ignore. The entry of Huawei into the field with its recently launched luxury electric SUV means that competition in the sector is going to get fierce.
Technology
Chinese cloud providers such as Tencent and Huawei are stepping up their game and entering overseas markets, in competition with global players like Amazon. How will these Chinese cloud giants do in territories like Southeast Asia and the Middle East, especially given the rise of AI and large language models?
Politics
A possible concern on the military use of AI in China, where the party controls the People’s Liberation Army, is that political rationality may take precedence over military rationality. This could heighten the risks of accidental escalation or a lack of assurance of control and safety when using such technology. Japanese academic Masaaki Yatsuzuka delves into the issue.
Technology
China’s tech sector has been making mass layoffs, freezing hiring and cutting pay since 2022, and there is little sign of a bounce-back. Cost reductions, efficiency enhancement or talent structure optimisation are often the words these companies use. But what is really weighing on the job market are sluggish business growth, intensified market competition and the unprecedented challenges of the business landscape amid new technology.
Politics
Singapore's Health Minister Ong Ye Kung delivered the keynote speech entitled "Youths – Bridge Between East and West, Pivot Between Present and Future" at the Lianhe Zaobao Singapore-China Forum 2023 held in Beijing on 21 November. He spoke about issues affecting the youths of today — whether in China or Singapore — noting that while they have big issues to tackle, they still have much to look forward to in this pivotal moment in history. This is the English version of his keynote address delivered in Mandarin.
Technology
Guangzhou’s open policies towards the development of intelligent connected vehicles have created a favourable business environment to boost the industry. However, autonomous driving for robobuses and robotaxis is still largely in the research and development stage, with small steps in commercial trials. It will be difficult for companies to achieve economic balance in the short term. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Zeng Shi speaks with industry insiders to learn more about this nascent sector.
Technology
China put forth a draft Degree Law recently that includes harsh consequences for degree holders who use artificial intelligence tools to ghostwrite their dissertations. These aggressive measures reflect a conundrum that the country’s academia and wider community finds themselves in: how can China balance between the desire for technological progress and the fear of losing its identity and autonomy?