The Future of Technology: Generative AI in China

By Eleanor Brash, Imagination

December 4, 2024

Welcome to the second in our “Future of Technology” series where Zack Zheng, Imagination’s Director of Product Management in China explains the progress China has made in developing foundational models and their deployment at the edge, highlighting key trends, technological advancements, and the future outlook. You can watch the webinar recording by completing this form, or read our recap below for the key takeaways.

The Rise of Gen-AI in China 

China's investment in Gen-AI is projected to surge with an estimated 86% CAGR over the next five years. This growth is driven by a focus on technological self-sufficiency, from applications to chips, and a strong emphasis on locally developed technology. Key areas of development include: 

• AI Chip Development: Addressing the need for powerful AI infrastructure. 

• Dataset Localisation: Supporting local languages and dialects. 

• Customised AI Applications: Tailored to specific consumer and industry needs. 

• Open-Source Community: Active participation in deep learning frameworks and large model open-source communities. 

Regional Technical Trends 

Chinese labs have made contributed widely to the AI landscape, particularly in open-source AI ecosystems. These include: 

• Leaderboard Performance: Chinese models are competitive with top-tier global models, excelling in specific subtasks. 

• Multimodal Large Language Models: Strong contenders in sub-domains such as Chinese language understanding. 

• On-Device LLMs: Progress in developing efficient models for edge devices, such as MiniCPM3-4B. 

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