Editor's note: Gai Keke is a professor at the School of AI, Beijing Institute of Technology, and also at the Zhongguancun Academy. Yu Jing is an associate professor at the School of Information Engineering at Minzu University of China. The article reflects the authors' opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

In the current landscape of industrial transformation, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a pivotal focus for technologically advanced nations. Talent cultivation, as the driving force behind high-tech innovation, stands as a critical element in sustaining the rapid advancement of AI.

While the transformative potential of AI in fostering new productive forces is widely acknowledged, the deepening integration of AI with other fields presents fresh challenges for talent development. A growing gap is forming between traditional AI education and the increasingly interdisciplinary demands today. Addressing how to advance AI education, research, and innovation in cross-disciplinary domains will be crucial for nurturing AI talents and securing a competitive edge in AI development.

AI education requires disruptive approaches to meet future demands

In recent years, China has undertaken various initiatives to enhance AI education, striving to provide more students and professionals with access to innovative training models. Zhongguancun Academy serves as a compelling example. As President of Zhongguancun Academy, Dr. Tieyan Liu emphasizes, "AI education requires disruptive approaches to meet future demands, particularly for top-tier talent. Thus, our guiding principles, 'Extreme Fundamentals, Extreme Applications, and Extreme Interdisciplinary' in research, and 'Extreme Classics, Extreme Frontiers, and Extreme Practicality' in talent cultivation, define the path for fostering top-tier AI professionals."

This emerging model of higher-education has sparked optimism and imagination for the future of AI talent education. Unlike traditional approaches that heavily rely on the guidance of supervisors and computer-based lab environments, the "Six Extreme" framework offers a transformative vision for cultivating tomorrow's AI professionals. Imagine the excitement of assembling a research team composed of top-tier scholars from diverse disciplines, computing, biology, physics, mathematics, and beyond. This maximal interdisciplinary collaboration surely will accelerate the evolution of AI toward greater generalization and applicability.

Indeed, the United States has also made strides in interdisciplinary AI integration, with many universities launching "AI+X" programs. For instance, the University of California, Berkeley has introduced an "AI-Focused LL.M." program to explore the intersection of AI and legal studies.

However, China distinguishes itself in AI talent development, particularly in cultivating high-level professionals, through more systematic and innovative reforms. Beyond establishing "AI+X" cross-disciplinary courses or degree programs at universities, China has taken a pioneering step by establishing new educational institutions dedicated to pedagogical models. This approach represents a significant leap forward in AI education, showcasing not only China's creativity in emerging professional training but also its resolute commitment to developing talent capable of meeting the evolving demands of the industry.

China aims to build an AI ecosystem integrating industry, academia, research, innovation and capital

Yet in a development that warrants attention, China is pioneering innovative approaches to overcome these bottlenecks. For example, at the forefront of this effort is the Zhongguancun Institute of Artificial Intelligence, a research organization spearheading the development of an integrated "industry-academia-research-innovation-capital" ecosystem. This framework provides critical industry-driven support for academic talents, effectively compressing the timeline between breakthrough research and real-world deployment.

While challenges inevitably accompany China's exploration in AI talent development, from integrating with existing educational systems to refining training methodologies, its pioneering efforts are significantly accelerating the cross-disciplinary application of AI technologies. These innovative and courageous initiatives not only showcase China's unique approach but also contribute invaluable insights to global top-tier AI talent cultivation. By forging distinctly Chinese models, China is actively propelling the growth of the worldwide AI industry.