AI alliance formed as city readies for future

An artificial intelligence industrial alliance was founded in Shanghai yesterday, another step toward a complete AI ecosystem in the city.

The Shanghai AI Development Alliance (SAA) consists of 22 firms, including Baidu, DeepBlue and UCloud, along with the Microsoft Asia Research Center (Shanghai) and ABB, a Swiss-Swedish multinational operating in robotics and automation technology.

Unlike other tech alliances, SAA players come from a variety of industries, including automakers, banks, industrial zones and telecommunications carriers.

Shanghai is home to more than 1,000 AI firms. The city generates a huge volume of data each day providing huge potential for AI firms, said Zhang Ying, chief engineer of Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization.

The local AI industry generated 70 billion yuan (US$10.4 billion) in 2017. Core sectors are expected to produce more than 100 billion yuan by 2020.

Binjiang in Xuhui District and Zhangjiang of the Pudong New Area are leading AI innovation bases, with other developments in Yangpu, Changning, Minhang and Jing'an districts.

AIWIN or Artificial Intelligence World Innovations, a global-oriented AI competition, also debuted yesterday, part of the coming World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai this autumn. AIWIN has invited startups from Israel, France and UK to attend.