World conference on urban planning of AI opens in Shanghai

A world conference on the urban planning of artificial intelligence (AI) got underway in Shanghai, China's talent hub, on Aug 30, with the aim of creating a convenient platform for industry-university-research cooperation.

As a concerted effort of Tongji University and the International Knowledge Centre for Engineering Sciences and Technology under the auspices of UNESCO, the conference took the lead in combining urban planning with AI, and inviting experts, scholars and enterprise leaders to brainstorm on better integration of the two fields.

Sun Anjun, chairman of the China Association of City Planning, thought AI would play a positive role, allowing the principles of urban development to be more easily understood, more targeted and more effective.

An association on global urban planning with AI support was established on the sidelines of the conference, along with a manifesto released at the conclusion.

The conference was held as a parallel session of the 2017 Global (Shanghai) Artificial Intelligence Innovation Summit which started in Shanghai on the same day and was the first conference held in the metropolis to focus on AI innovation.

Some 1,000 participants explored the growing worldwide trend of AI technology, and shared ideas on the power of innovation, China's AI renaissance, and the digitalization of innovation processes through AI.

They also conducted enthusiastic discussions on technological research and development, its industrialization and practical application, and talent training in the AI area.

Tongji University has been endeavoring to enhance its scientific prowess and make its voice heard in more international arenas. The university established a specific AI research institute in May, bringing together efforts from various interdisciplinary resources.