Big Data World: Tech heavyweights gather at China Int'l Big Data Expo in Guizhou

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Turning to the China International Big Data Industry Expo in Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou Province. China's IT industry heavyweights shared their insights on the development of artificial intelligence and big data on Sunday. Natasha Hussain has more.

The future of artificial intelligence is a favored topic at this year's big data expo in Guizhou. Some of China's top business leaders attended the event Sunday, including from Chinese Internet search giant Baidu. The company had unveiled a plan to mass produce its self-driving mini-bus by July. Road safety is a major concern.

ROBIN LI, CEO BAIDU "Security is the most important thing for autonomous driving. There can be no mistakes. And what's very important is infrastructure development, for example, more sensors put on roads for vehicles to identify obstacles."

Over the past year, Baidu shifted more focus to emerging segments such as AI. According to Li, the transition aims to better serve the people.

ROBIN LI, CEO BAIDU "By artificial intelligence, labor is no longer a means of livelihood, but rather a need. You want to work, innovate and create. This is the ideal of AI - bringing more freedom and possibility for mankind."

In a speech, Jack Ma, chairman of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba said the era of big data is creating opportunities for many people. He noted that Guizhou Province, known as China's big data test field, helps the country's efforts in alleviating poverty.

JACK MA, CHAIRMAN ALIBABA GROUP "We often talk about the modernization of the countryside. But making it a reality is what we want to see most. I believe that Guizhou will be one of the most meaningful and richest places in China in the future, because they have the imagination and are willing to work hard, which is also the greatest hope for poverty alleviation."

Big data is becoming a new engine of economic growth. China is implementing its strategy centered on building up the country's strength in nurturing a digital economy.

Tencent's Pony Ma pointed out that despite fast development of technology in the relevant fields, more emphasis should put into the level of basic scientific research.

PONY MA, CEO TENCENT "In the field of basic science, from chip and operating systems to artificial intelligence, and even quantum computation, we should not only develop applications, but also focus on basic research."

The Chinese government announced plans this year to triple the country's big-data market to over one-hundred billion dollars by 2020. And the companies at the expo are right in the front and center of the government's tech ambitions.