Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the evolution and significance of reinforcement learning (RL) in China, highlighting key figures and their contributions to the field, particularly focusing on Wang Jun and his influence on the development of RL research and education in China [2][46]. Group 1: Historical Context and Development - Wang Jun's journey in AI began with information retrieval and recommendation systems, where he achieved significant academic recognition [4][8]. - His transition to reinforcement learning was influenced by his experiences in advertising, where he recognized the parallels between decision-making in advertising and RL principles [12][14]. - The establishment of the RL China community marked a pivotal moment in promoting RL research and education in China, addressing the lack of resources and formal education in the field [49][50]. Group 2: Contributions and Innovations - Wang Jun and his students have made substantial contributions to RL, including the development of SeqGAN and IRGAN, which integrate RL with generative adversarial networks for improved performance in various applications [23][24]. - The introduction of multi-agent systems in RL research has been a significant focus, with applications in complex environments such as advertising and gaming [27][28]. - The establishment of MediaGamma allowed for practical applications of RL in real-time advertising, showcasing the commercial viability of RL algorithms [17][18]. Group 3: Educational Initiatives and Community Building - The formation of RL China has facilitated knowledge sharing and collaboration among researchers and students, significantly enhancing the learning environment for RL in China [49][52]. - The publication of "Hands-On Reinforcement Learning" has provided accessible educational resources, bridging the gap between theory and practice for students [53]. - Wang Jun's mentorship has fostered a new generation of RL researchers, emphasizing the importance of exploration and innovation in academic pursuits [26][43]. Group 4: Future Directions and Challenges - The integration of RL with large models and embodied intelligence represents a promising frontier for future research, aiming to address the challenges of generalization across different tasks and environments [56][62]. - The ongoing exploration of RL applications in real-world scenarios, such as robotics and automated decision-making, highlights the potential for RL to impact various industries significantly [61][62]. - Despite setbacks in some projects, the commitment to advancing RL research and its applications remains strong among Wang Jun and his students, indicating a resilient and forward-looking approach to the field [56][62].