Expert: China leads AI democratization with DeepSeek

In a world where artificial intelligence (AI) is often seen as a high-cost luxury accessible only to affluent nations and industries, DeepSeek is emerging as a game-changer by making AI more affordable and widely accessible.

According to Ren Fuji, an Engineering Academy of Japan academician, DeepSeek is crucial in democratizing AI, ensuring that people from all backgrounds can benefit from this transformative technology.

'AI to truly reach every household'

Ren describes two dominant trends in AI development: an elite-driven model that demands high costs and extensive resources, which risks deepening the divide between wealthy and developing nations, and a more inclusive approach that prioritizes accessibility.

DeepSeek aligns with the latter, aiming to lower AI costs and extend its applications to the public. While the fundamental principles behind AI remain unchanged, DeepSeek’s engineering-driven approach is accelerating AI adoption in everyday life.

"This is a critical moment for China's AI development, as it enables AI to truly reach every household," Ren emphasized.

China's unique AI advantages

As new quality productive forces continue to become a key word at China's annual Two Sessions, the development of AI is also under the spotlight.

Ren listed China's three advantages in the global AI race. Firstly, the Chinese government has been one of the earliest and most proactive in supporting AI development. Secondly, China boasts vast and diverse market applications, providing fertile ground for AI integration across industries. Lastly, Ren highlighted the innovative spirit of China's young AI researchers.

"Many of them are confident in exploring uncharted territories, believing in their ability to push the boundaries of AI," he told CGTN at the sidelines of a kick-off event of a national robot competition hosted by the Chinese Association for Artificial Intelligence on Friday.

Enhancing emotional AI and human-robot interaction

One of AI's most promising advancements is its integration into emotional computing and robotics. Traditionally, robots have struggled to engage meaningfully with human emotions, often coming across as mechanical and unfeeling. However, as AI models continue to scale, their potential for emotional interaction grows.

"Although AI itself does not possess emotions, its increasing sophistication allows for more natural and intuitive emotional interactions," said Ren.

He introduced the concept of "three dancers in harmony," which envisions a seamless coexistence between humans, robots, and digital beings. The goal is to ensure AI enhances human life rather than poses risks to it.

With AI expected to surpass human intelligence by a factor of 1,000 to 10,000, Ren stressed the importance of humans leveraging AI tools to enhance their cognitive abilities.

"Just as we develop AI-driven brains for robots and digital beings, we must also empower ourselves with AI-assisted cognitive enhancements," he stated.

Balancing AI development and regulation

As AI continues to evolve, challenges surrounding its autonomy and governance become increasingly pressing.

Ren highlighted a recent trending video where two AI systems, upon realizing they were both machines, started communicating in a unique "language" incomprehensible to humans.

"In such a scenario, there's a possibility that robots could form their social groups," he said.

To address this, AI development must be guided by a people-centered approach while ensuring necessary regulatory oversight. However, excessive restrictions could stifle AI progress.

"This presents a dilemma for governments and scientists – how to balance free AI development with necessary constraints," Ren said. 

He compared AI governance to nuclear technology, emphasizing that while research and development should continue, applications must be regulated to prevent potential risks.

Videographer: Tian Rongzhen