Song-Chun Zhu: The Race to General Purpose Artificial Intelligence is not Merely About Technological Competition; Even More So, it is a Struggle to Control the Narrative

Investment Rating - The report does not provide a specific investment rating for the industry Core Insights - The Chinese AI industry should pursue multiple paths to general purpose AI, focusing on modeling human cognition, algorithm innovation, and "small data" rather than solely on large language models [1][4][11] - Independence of thought and confidence are essential for technological innovation and high-quality economic development [5][6] - The development of general AI is not just about technological competition but also about controlling the narrative and global confidence [7][10] Summary by Sections Industry Overview - The race for general AI is characterized by a struggle for narrative control, with the U.S. dominating the current discourse [7][10] - The U.S. narrative emphasizes barriers such as big data and computing power, which has led to a confidence gap and conservative investment decisions in other countries [8][10] Technological Development - General AI must possess three fundamental characteristics: the ability to complete unlimited tasks, autonomously identify tasks in scenarios, and make value-driven decisions [14][15] - The Tong Test has been introduced as a new evaluation standard for general AI, focusing on capabilities and values [16][17] Strategic Recommendations - China should enhance original innovation capabilities and avoid dependence on the Western model [18][20] - The country must focus on science popularization, correct research directions, and establish new organizational models to foster innovation [23][24]