Shanghai's municipal government announced a comprehensive plan on Friday aimed at developing a world-class AI industry ecosystem by 2025.
The plan, officially named the Implementation Plan for AI "Molding Shanghai," consists of 22 measures. The goals include surpassing 100 Exa Floating Point Operations Per Second (EFLOPS） in computing power, developing approximately 50 industry-specific open corpus demonstration applications, launching 3 to 5 innovation accelerators for large models, and establishing several collaborative empowerment centers and vertical zones for model training.
Specifically, Shanghai will create a super-large-scale autonomous intelligent computing cluster, build a multi-level corpus supply system, build a large-scale training zone that merges virtual and real environments, and accelerate innovation in the large model system. These measures will effectively boost Shanghai's innovation capabilities in AI.
In promoting applications in key vertical fields, Shanghai will focus on industries such as finance, manufacturing, education, healthcare, cultural tourism, and urban governance, facilitating the broad adoption of AI technology to improve intelligence and service efficiency across industries.
Meanwhile, Shanghai plans to attract top domestic and international innovation teams and scientists in large model development. The city aims to build a national experimental zone dedicated to nurturing top talent in AI. Additionally, Shanghai will enhance collaboration with international organizations, contribute to the creation of global AI governance standards, and position Shanghai's AI industry on the global stage.
As China unveiled an AI Plus initiative in the 2024 Government Work Report, many local governments are accelerating the integration of innovation resources to promote the development of AI technology and related industries.
For instance, in July, Beijing issued the Beijing Municipal Action Plan to Promote "AI+" (2024-2025), proposing to "take the lead in building an AI city and promote the city to become a globally influential source of AI innovation and application."
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday morning administered the oath of office to Sam Hou Fai, new chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region.
If you are 71 years old, how fast could you run a 100-meter race? Jin Hui from Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province, gave his answer— 13.97 seconds.
Jin was born in 1953 and was a worker at a steel mill. As a lifelong sports enthusiast, Jin once practiced martial arts, wrestling, and boxing, and now plays for a local senior soccer team.
He first tried sprinting in 2023, encouraged by his friends. To his surprise, his self-timed sprints ranked him among the top in his age group in China, which gives him the confidence to participate in all kinds of competitions. Since last year, he has won enough medals to fill a small box.
Jin said he feels a great sense of fulfillment whenever he’s racing on the track with people cheering for him from the stands.
“When I was just retired, I suffered a bit of depression then, considering myself to be a worthless man. But now I have become a role model for many young people, giving me a renewed sense of purpose and self-esteem,” Jin said.
Jin has become an influencer on social media platforms. His videos of participating in sprinting competitions and daily training have garnered significant attention and likes. Now, many young people join Jin in his daily workouts, and Jin guides them in improving their running techniques.
Jin said that he practiced sprinting and participated in competitions not for fame, instead, he hopes that his experience will inspire others to value physical exercise and improve their health.
Harmony, or "He," lies at the heart of the Chinese civilization, representing a core spiritual value that has shaped the ethos of the Chinese nation.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, has repeatedly emphasized the importance of preserving and promoting China's outstanding traditional culture, with harmony as one of its most essential elements. At the BRICS Summit held in Kazan in late October, he extended this philosophy on the global stage, calling for harmonious coexistence among civilizations and closer cultural exchanges between nations.
In China, the value of "He" is deeply rooted in traditional Chinese culture, guiding the country through a complex, interconnected world. The Global Times is launching a series "He Culture in Xi Jinping's Quotes of Classics." Drawing upon ancient Chinese literature and illuminating examples from President Xi's speeches, the series delves into the essence of "He" through five interconnected dimensions: Self-cultivation, family management, state governance, bringing peace to all under heaven, and reverence for nature. By highlighting these core aspects of "He" culture, the series aims to share China's unique cultural wisdom with the world, promoting values of peaceful coexistence, mutual prosperity, and harmonious living.
The second installment highlights the story of the "most beautiful family" in Central China's Hunan to illustrate how the tradition of teaching and nurturing has fostered a harmonious small family, serving as a model for larger families, which are the cornerstone of a prosperous nation.
In the village of He Ci in Hengnan county, Central China's Hunan Province, a family exemplifies love and wisdom across generations. At the center of this four-generation household is nearly 90-year-old He Fangjing, the eldest of the He family dedicated to rural education for over four decades. As a devoted teacher, he has not only educated countless students but also instilled values of learning and kindness in his descendants, fostering a family ethos that prioritizes moral integrity.
Every Chinese Lunar New Year's eve, the He family gathers to share stories and all-year gains, highlighting the enduring power of love, education, and familial bonds. Reflecting on this cherished tradition, the elder expressed pride in their family's heritage with the Global Times.
Family values are the spiritual core and of societal values. President Xi has stressed the importance of family virtues and traditions on many occasions.
At the mid-Autumn Festival on October 1, 2020, a traditional holiday for family reunion in China, Xi said that "the Chinese nation has always valued the family. As an ancient saying goes: 'The state is essential under Heaven. The family is essential for the state.' A harmonious family will prosper," the Xinhua News Agency reported.
The ancient saying quoted by Xi originates from the classic work Mencius, a classic work of Confucianism in China's Warring States Period (475BC-221BC). It conveys the idea that the foundation of the world, the country, and the family lies in each family, and the foundation of each family lies in each of us. Every individual should strive to be a good person with a sense of reverence. When families are harmonious, it paves the way for a well-ordered nation, ultimately leading to world peace.
In the He family, the aspirations of both the family and the nation are intricately intertwined, because many later generations have taken on important national positions such as engineers, doctors, and civil servants under He Fangjing's education and influence. This family exemplifies how 490 million households across China are united in their efforts to form a powerful collective force aimed at achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and realizing the Chinese Dream.
A spokesperson for 'He' family
Promoting strong family values is also a cherished tradition of the CPC. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Party has prioritized the development of family values, education, and traditions, recognizing that countless families serve as vital cornerstones for national development, ethnic progress, and social harmony, Xinhua reported.
The descendants of He Fangjing have blossomed in this fertile soil. Every year during the Spring Festival, three generations in He's family would gather for a family symposium to discuss gains and losses, work, and interpersonal relationships. This tradition has been upheld for over two decades.
He noted that each year's family symposium has a different theme, but the core message is always to inspire the younger generation to treat others with sincerity and to be willing to help.
This enduring legacy remains closely tied to He's original profession in education. After retiring, he continued to promote his educational philosophy through family values. "This practice originated from an experience I had 30 years ago, shortly after I retired from teaching. During the New Year celebrations, I visited my village and noticed that everyone was either indulging in feasting or playing cards and mahjong. I felt that the New Year should not only be about family warmth but also about the spirit of learning," said He Fangjing.
His granddaughter, He Xiufeng, chuckled as she recounted to the Global Times, "At first, my family didn't quite understand. They thought New Year was all about eating, drinking, and having fun, and they found it too complicated to hold a family discussion; they felt it was too serious."
However, He Fangjing remained steadfast in his beliefs. To ensure the family discussions were meaningful, he meticulously prepared speeches before each meeting, pouring his hopes and expectations for his children and grandchildren into those texts. Gradually, these discussions evolved into an annual grand event, gaining more influence and attracting many visitors eager to attend.
In 2015, He Fangjing compiled the discussions into a book based on the meeting transcripts, printing over 1,500 copies. He also created three volumes of family archives, distributing 300 copies to neighbors and friends free of charge. Many relatives and friends sought out the book, hoping to share it with their families and children for inspiration.
In 2023, the second volume of book was released. The introduction describes the book as "a substantial work, boasting over 420 pages and nearly one million words. Yet, it can also be considered a concise volume, as its entire essence can be distilled into three words: good family traditions."
Family values are our foundation; they have flowed from my grandfather's heart into mine. I believe this embodies the true strength of family values, He Xiufeng said.
He Fangjing dedicates over four hours each day to reading, meticulously recording any valuable insights he encounters for his children. These notes have become his cherished "admonitions" to them.
He also designed and constructed a 90-meter-long family cultural corridor and holds special recognition ceremonies at the ancestral hall each year to motivate the younger generation to study diligently.
In 2018, Xi urged the people to integrate their personal and family dreams with the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.
"We should pool the wisdom and strength of more than 1.3 billion Chinese people in more than 400 million households to strive for the great success of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era and realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation," Xi said during his Spring Festival speech on February 14, 2018.
He Fangjing said his Chinese dream is made up of countless family dreams. The premise of the realization of this dream is that everyone lives diligently, actively and optimistically, and strives to create a harmonious society.
Achieving greatness of big families This expectation of inheritance and love extends beyond the immediate family to encompass the larger community.
In addition to educating her own children, retired He Fangjing has embraced the role of an extracurricular teacher for other children in the village. Whenever he receives salary or some money from her children, he finds ways to invest it in repairing roads, schools, and ponds within the community.
To inspire future generations and foster cultural development within the clan, He Fangjing took the initiative to establish a special fund and to hold an award ceremony on August 8 every year to honor He family members who have been admitted to prestigious universities across the country.
Under his influence, since 2007, 134 members of the He Family in the village have been admitted to top national universities, including four who were accepted into Tsinghua University and Peking University.
As ancient Chinese scholars put it, "If you love your children, teach them the right path," and "Love your children the right way, or you will cause them harm." Young people are the hope of the future for not just families but also the nation. President Xi quoted these ancient sayings when he had a meeting with attendees at a Beijing conference to honor model families across the nation on December 12, 2016.
The first ancient saying Xi quoted was coming from Zuo's Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals (Zuo Zhuan). Zuoqiu Ming (556-451 BC) was a historian of the Spring and Autumn Period. The other one was from Historical Events Retold as a Mirror for Government (Zi Zhi Tong Jian). The ancient wisdom conveys that if you do not guide your children with moral principles or love them through a moral lens, then what you offer is not true love; rather, it may harm them.
He Fangjing draws upon this age-old and straightforward family tradition to cultivate wisdom that shapes future generations and reaches a broader segment of the community.
A home is not just a personal space; it is the smallest unit of a nation, and a nation is made up of countless homes. The well-being of a small family is intertwined with the larger harmonious community and the country. Similarly, family matters are not merely private affairs; they are also concerns of the nation and society, said Professor Zhao Dongmei from Peking University.
He's family exemplifies that a good family ethos is a family's true immovable asset. If countless families possess such valuable assets, they collectively support the spiritual edifice of the nation and the people. This is why Chinese leaders place such great emphasis on family building and the cultivation of family values, said the scholar.
"A bridge will fly to span the north and south, turning a deep chasm into a thoroughfare."
Since ancient times, bridges have had a profound significance for Chinese people.
Today, China's bridge construction technology is bolstered by independent core technologies and advanced equipment, making these bridges not only dazzling landmarks of national infrastructure but also representatives of the economic leap and technological confidence of the Chinese path to modernization.
Recently, the "Traditional design and practices for building Chinese wooden arch bridges" was inscribed onto the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. China's ancient bridge building wisdom of "bridges over water, corridors on bridges, and an integration of the two" has astonished the world.
After years of learning, innovation, and practice, China has developed a complete set of technology and domestically produced equipment to meet the design, construction, and manufacturing needs for crossing mountains, seas, and entering cities. The scale and technical level of these projects are world-leading, signifying China's advancement in bridge construction.
On Wednesday, after more than four years of construction, the Huangmaohai Cross-Sea Passage opened to traffic. With a length of 31 kilometers, it ranks among China's 10 longest cross-sea passages, linking Zhuhai City and Jiangmen City in South China's Guangdong Province.
In the Yangtze River Delta, the cross-sea connectivity has hit the "accelerate" button for development. A bridge connecting eight islands of the Zhoushan Islands in East China's Zhejiang Province was fully completed and opened in 2021.
Meanwhile, the 29.2-kilometer-long Hangzhou Bay Cross-Sea Railway Bridge is under construction and will be the world's longest cross-sea high-speed railway bridge upon completion.
These bridges have also driven the rise of previously economically weaker regions, greatly improving people's quality of life.
Guizhou Province, the only province in China without a plain, has broken through the transportation bottlenecks constraining its economic and social development in recent years by building roads over mountains and bridges over waters, constructing a "high-speed plain" among its lofty mountains and ridges.
Currently, Guizhou boasts over 30,000 bridges, both completed and under construction, encompassing nearly every bridge type. It is known as the "World's Bridge Museum." Among the world's 100 tallest bridges, 51 are in Guizhou, including four in the top 10, according to Xinhua News Agency.
For example, after the completion of the Zangke River Bridge that straddles the Zangke River in April 2024, the travel time between its two banks will be reduced from one hour to one minute.
In addition, the magnificent scenery of these bridges has boosted tourism. Some areas have developed a series of activities around their bridges, such as high-altitude swings, rapid descent experiences, and skywalks, attracting a large number of tourists and enabling locals to benefit from tourism.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday called on the Chinese people to learn from heroes and role models to form a mighty force to build a strong China.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a ceremony awarding the country's highest state honors ahead of the 75th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China (PRC).
China is in a crucial period for building a great modern socialist country in all respects and achieving national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization, Xi said.
Before his speech, Xi presented the Medal of the Republic, the Friendship Medal, and medals of national honorary titles at the Great Hall of the People.
Four people, including veteran war hero Huang Zongde and medical scientist Wang Zhenyi, were awarded the Medal of the Republic. Ten individuals, including border patrolman Bayika Kalidibek, technician Xu Zhenchao, and acclaimed actress Tian Hua, were awarded national honorary titles, Xinhua News Agency reported.
Dilma Rousseff, former Brazilian president and president of the New Development Bank, received the Friendship Medal.
President Xi extended warm congratulations and paid high respect to the recipients of China's highest state honors.
Xi said that over the past 75 years the CPC has led Chinese people of all ethnic groups in creating the twin miracles of rapid economic growth and long-term social stability. Great times call for heroes
The presentation ceremony was held amid the jubilant atmosphere as China is celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the PRC, with flower baskets, floral displays, decorative lights seen on the streets in China's capital.
Before the ceremony, the recipients of the national medals and honorary titles were escorted by a state guest motorcade to the Great Hall of the People. At the entrance to the Great Hall of the People, they were warmly welcomed by a group of children carrying flowers and national flags.
At the ceremony, President Xi hailed the earthshaking changes that have taken place in China and stated that national rejuvenation is now on an irreversible historical course.
A galaxy of heroes emerging generation after generation will ensure the lasting prosperity of the Party and the people's cause, Xi said.
The Chinese president also called on the Chinese people to learn from heroes and role models to form a mighty force to build a strong China.
He emphasized the need for people to bear in mind their aspirations, hone their skills, and make contributions to building a strong China.
He also encouraged the Chinese people to strive for extraordinary achievements at ordinary job posts and urged all to make contributions to resolve development and reform challenges, and safeguard social harmony and stability.
Speaking at the ceremony, Huang Zongde, 93, said that the honor belongs to every member of the people's armed forces and all the heroes who sacrificed their lives for China's national independence, the liberation of the people, and the endeavor to make China prosperous and strong.
Su Wei, a professor from the Party School of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee, told the Global Times on Sunday that the awarding of role models and heroes in various fields not only reflects China's full recognition of their contributions, but also highlights the prominent role of patriotism in advancing China's modernization.
"The Party and country have long had the tradition of establishing model of heroes. By calling on the people of the whole country to learn from them, we can better inspire the patriotism of the people and contribute more to the development of the country," he noted.
Zhu Lijia, a professor as the National Academy of Governance, said that many outstanding people's quiet dedication to the country often went unknown for a long time, and so the grand commendation at the level of national leadership has a vital importance in inspiring and motivating the Chinese people to strive for rejuvenation.
Same aspirations
While awarding Rousseff the Friendship Medal on Sunday, Xi lauded her as an outstanding representative of China's old friends and good friends who have shared the same aspirations and stood together with the Chinese people over the past 75 years.
Chinese people will never forget the international friends who have made prominent contributions to China's development and the friendship between Chinese and foreign people, Xi said.
Xi said the Chinese people stand ready to work together with people of various countries to safeguard world peace and boost common development.
Xi also called for joint efforts to build a human community with a shared future and create an even brighter future for humanity.
In her address, Rousseff said the medal fills her with immense honor, pledging continued efforts to help strengthen the mutually beneficial cooperation between Brazil and China.
In an interview with the Xinhua News Agency released on Sunday, Rousseff said she feels proud and pleased to receive the medal, adding that China's achievements toward economic, social, cultural and political modernization over the past 75 years are unprecedented in history. "China's reform and opening up never ends," said Rousseff, adding that China provides a model to the Global South for economic, political and social development.
The rising demand for travel during China's week-long National Day holidays starting on October 1 is expected to inject more vitality into domestic consumption, with growth foreseen in relevant sectors amid ramped-up policy support.
Amid the peak season of "Golden September and Silver October," observers expect growth in tourism and related industries to fuel the nation's recovering consumption.
The transport sector is expected to handle 1.94 billion passenger trips nationwide during the holidays, with a daily average of 277 million trips. The daily average would be up 0.7 percent year-on-year and 19.4 percent compared with the same period in 2019, Vice Minister of Transport Li Yang said at a press conference on Friday.
Li highlighted a growing demand for domestic and international travel during the "golden week."
He noted that family tours and cross-provincial travel would be the mainstream options, with major destinations including such locations as Beijing, Shanghai and North China's Shanxi Province.
As of Saturday, searches for "travel during the National Day holidays" had surged 27 times year-on-year on domestic service apps Meituan and Dianping. Bookings for natural scenic spots accounted for 29.6 percent of the total orders and remained the top choice for family tours.
It is expected that the proportion of self-driving trips during the National Day holidays will exceed 80 percent, reaching 1.526 billion trips, Li said.
He also anticipated a rising demand for medium- and long-distance travel, as the average travel distance during the holidays is estimated to increase by about 30 percent compared with the three-day Mid-Autumn Festival break.
As for outbound travel, Li said that neighboring Southeast Asian countries are among the highly favored attractions.
Outbound flight and hotel bookings on Chinese online travel agency Qunar for the holiday covered nearly 1,600 cities in 144 countries and regions, the company said.
Holiday consumption will play a vital role in boosting GDP growth for the coming months, bolstered by growth in sectors such as tourism, catering, accommodation and transportation, said Wang Peng, an associate research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences.
In the first eight months of 2024, retail sales rose by 3.4 percent year-on-year to 31.25 trillion yuan ($4.46 trillion), according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Online sales remained a bright spot, rising by 8.9 percent year-on-year to 9.63 trillion yuan.
In addition, the beautiful autumn weather will attract more travelers to opt for outdoor activities such as bike riding, leading to an increase in sales and production of corresponding equipment and tools, Jiang Yiyi, a vice dean of the School of Leisure Sports and Tourism at Beijing Sport University, told the Global Times on Saturday.
Jiang noted that support measures adopted by Chinese localities and responsible authorities - such as distributing vouchers and optimizing service quality in scenic spots - have significantly stimulated tourism.
Wang said that the implementation of dedicated measures to stimulate consumption represented by the trade-in program has been showing an effect while promoting consumption upgrading.
However, NBS spokesperson Liu Aihua said at a separate press conference in September that the consumption recovery still faces constraints, prompting authorities to channel even more energy into strengthening consumer sentiment and stimulating domestic demand.
The presence of improved government policies, combined with better products and services on the market, means that the potential of consumption will be unleashed at a faster pace and thus the consumer market will have a more solid foundation for recovery, Liu noted.
In soft, ambient lighting, “The Thinker” rests his fist against his chin, lost in profound contemplation. Just a few steps away, “Balzac” stands tall, head held high. These masterpieces, crafted by the legendary French artist Auguste Rodin, are quietly placed at an exhibition hall in Shanghai, inviting local visitors on a journey through the splendor of 19th-century French art.
The exhibition Rodin: A Hinge Figure towards Modernity will kick off on Saturday as the opening exhibition of the much-anticipated Centre d’ Art Rodin, or Rodin art center in Shanghai, a key cultural exchange project under the theme of the 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic ties this year.
The exhibition showcases more than 100 authentic artworks, including sculptures, paintings, and porcelain pieces, collector and the center’s president Wu Jing said at the opening ceremony on Friday.
Some of the most emblematic works on display include Age of Bronze (large model), Monument to Balzac, and The Thinker (medium model), which are precious French national cultural properties deposited in the collection of Paris-based Rodin Museum that have been loaned to the center, Wu introduced.
For example, Age of Bronze (large model), is considered Rodin’s first truly personal work. The sensitive and vibrant modeling of the statue, which a young Belgian soldier named Auguste Ney posed for, was “the result of a close study of all the profiles of the model,” said a booklet of the exhibition.
The medium model of the world-renowned The Thinker on display, was an original size version of The Thinker that Rodin made in 1880. Years later, Rodin created the monumental version of The Thinker in 1903, which then became an iconic work in the history of world sculpture.
Notably, most exhibits are displayed openly without glass covers. “It’s a bold move, but we want to offer a perfect visiting experience,” Wu told the Global Times.
Born in Paris in 1840, Rodin is hailed as the “father of modern sculpture.” In addition to being a great sculptor, he was also a collector deeply interested in Chinese art. The exhibition also features 16 Chinese artworks and objects collected by Rodin during his lifetime, including terracotta figurines from the Sui and Tang dynasties (581-907), bronzes and porcelain pieces from Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
The venue of the center, located by Shanghai’s iconic Huangpu River, was transformed from the former French Pavilion of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.
Amélie Simier, director of the center’s partner Rodin Museum, said it is an ideal location for the center. “And it’s also an ideal time to open the center in Shanghai, showcasing our best sculptures and culture to Chinese visitors, to mark the 60 years anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between France and China,” Simier told the Global Times.
China's Ministry of Commerce announced that it commenced from Thursday an anti-discrimination investigation into Canada's tariff hikes on electric vehicles (EVs) as well as steel and aluminum products imported from China, after initial results have unveiled such discriminatory approach.
The investigation has commenced in accordance with the Article 36 and Article 37 of China's Foreign Trade Law, MOFCOM announced, noting that the investigation will typically last for three months and can be extended under special circumstances, according to a statement posted on its website on Thursday.
According to Xinhua News Agency, it is the first such investigation initiated by China and also the first of its kind in the world.
Stakeholders can submit the comments in written form within 30 days of the commencement of the probe and written request for a hearing can be submitted within 20 days from when the probe is launched.
The Article 7 of China's Foreign Trade Law clearly stipulates that in the event that any country or region applies prohibitive, restrictive or other like measures on a discriminatory basis against China in respect of trade, China may, as the case may be, take measures against the country or region in question. The Article 36 of China's Foreign Trade Law states that the authority responsible for foreign trade under the State Council may conduct investigation with regard to relevant matters, including the matter that requires investigation for implementing Article 7.
The step taken on Thursday is a follow-up of measures outlined by MOFCOM on September 3, when it said "China's attitude is clear-cut and it will take all necessary measures to defend the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies."
In addition to launching an anti-discriminatory probe, measures detailed then include plans to initiate dispute settlement proceedings at the WTO, which China did on September 6 by requesting consultation over Ottawa's tariff hikes.
On September 9, MOFCOM also initiated an anti-dumping investigation into imports of rapeseed from Canada, citing initial evidence that Canada's dumping practices have caused substantial harm to China's domestic industry.
After announcing its decision to impose hefty additional tariffs on Chinese products, including EVs, steel and aluminum, Canada on September 10 moved to escalate the trade row by announcing a 30-day public consultation to study the need for additional tariffs on more Chinese products including batteries, semiconductors and critical minerals.
Amid Canada-provoked trade tensions which Chinese experts said have negatively impacted bilateral ties, trade between China and Canada dropped by 0.5 percent year-on-year in the first eight months this year to $57.66 billion, reversing the 2.4 percent growth seen in the first seven months, customs data showed in earlier September.
The integration of AI-generated content (AIGC) into the film industry has taken a step forward with the launch of the Kling AI "Movie Co-Creation Project" on Monday. This initiative brings together nine prominent Chinese directors, including Li Shaohong and Yu Baimei, to create nine short films using AIGC. It marks China's first large-scale effort to apply AI-powered video-generation models to cinematic content creation.
Kling AI's ability to generate videos from images, control motion, and manage camera angles not only enhances production efficiency but also elevates the quality of cinematic output. The platform's broader application potential underscores its significance beyond experimental projects.
The technology's importance is further highlighted by the Beijing International Film Festival's recent announcement of its first AIGC filmmaking course. This course is designed to equip new filmmakers with the skills to integrate AI technology into the creative process, blending technical expertise with emotional storytelling.
"Technological innovation has always been part of cinema's evolution," Shi Wenxue, a veteran film critic and a preliminary judge in the main competition section at the Beijing International Film Festival, told the Global Times on Tuesday.
He emphasized how tools like AIGC are accelerating the filmmaking process by streamlining scriptwriting and project planning.
"Many of my colleagues are primarily using AIGC for technical tasks like previs (previsualization). Previously, we had to build preview models using tools like LEGO blocks; now AIGC offers a more direct and effective solution," Shi noted.
While AIGC excels in certain film genres such as animation, sci-fi, and archaeology-themed productions, Shi also noted that it is unlikely to fully replace human creativity or the emotional depth that actors and filmmakers bring to their work.
"AIGC serves as a support tool rather than a core replacement in the filmmaking process," Shi said.
Major players in the film industry have already begun to recognize the advantages offered by AIGC. Domestically, productions like the short narrative series Sanxingdui: Future Apocalypse, and CCTV's fully AI-produced micro film Chinese Mythology demonstrate how AI is driving advancements in the domestic film sector, particularly in the emerging micro drama industry.
Internationally, the influence of AIGC is also growing. Glenn Marshall, an AI artist, won the Jury Award at the 2022 Cannes Short Film Festival with his AI-generated film The Crow, highlighting the global reach and recognition of AI's role in creative content creation.
It's worth noting that the rise of AIGC has also sparked debate, particularly in industries that traditionally rely on human creativity. The 2023 Hollywood strikes, initially targeting employees' benefits, were also driven by concerns that AI could replace human roles, with issues around compensation and job security taking center stage.
"Don't see them as competitors or enemies; they are your work partners. Every technological breakthrough has benefited artistic creation, allowing creators' visions to be realized more perfectly and accurately. At the same time, AI also places higher demands on film professionals - they must have ideas that surpass it," Chinese director Liu Jiacheng said in an interview with the Xinhua News Agency.
Experts say as AIGC continues to develop, it will drive the next wave of innovation in the film industry. Its ability to enhance productivity and reduce costs could unlock a new era of efficiency, particularly in the rapidly expanding micro drama sector.
