Artificial Intelligence in China: Can technology replace people?

World
Europe

02:22

As tech-companies develop products that can boost user experiences, we are now seeing innovations that take advantage of human-centered designed. But will artificial intelligence actually replace the human workforce? CGTN's Zhao Yunfei speaks with some experts from the 2nd World Intelligence Conference to find out.

Just scan code to open the door, take the goods you need and it will charge you automatically through a mobile payment system.

This vending machine is expected to cut the need to staff convenient stores.

TANG JINMING INVESTMENT PROMOTION MANAGER, CITY BOX "If you open an off-line store, you need 4 to 5 people at a time. But if you use our product, you probably only need 1 to 2 people."

The new technology boosts the efficiency of selling products.

But without face-to-face interaction between the seller and buyer, how can they ensure a positive customer experience?

E-commerce giant JD.com seems to have found the answer.

ZHAO YUNFEI TIANJIN "Now I am showing a happy face and now, an angry face. This facial recognition system is able to read complex moods. It will be installed in unmanned shops to determine customer satisfaction with the shopping experience."

WANG JINGJING JD FINANCE "We realized that many off-line purchaess have drawbacks. The merchants don't know their customers well, and don't know how to better serve them. That's why we offer this product."

JD is automating its logistics system.

Its customer service robot successfully did the work of 11,000 humans during last year's shopping festival, Double 11 Day.

JD aims to cut its work burden by half with the help of robots. But won't that cause some people to lose jobs?

JD's Deputy Managing Director tells me that from his observation, most Chinese are not worried. Instead, they are positive about AI technology.

HE XIAODONG DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR, JD AI RESEARCH "Why do you think Chinese people are positive about that?) Just a feeling, here people are more focused on benefit and opportunity AI can bring to the community, sometimes also express our worry, for example, AI will take over the world, but so far people don't have this concern."

JACK MA FOUNDER, ALIBABA GROUP "All the technological improvements and revolutions in the human history have ended up providing more job opportunities. Our life has become better."

Jack Ma says if we don't have a solution yet, we will find one someday.

Zhao Yunfei, CGTN, Tianjin.