AI Transitions from Concept to Practical Applications

In recent years, AI has become a prominent topic. At the ongoing 6th China International Consumer Products Expo in Hainan, over 50 leading global tech companies are showcasing applications of AI in consumer goods, smart home technology, digital consumption, and low-altitude economy. This event allows global attendees to experience firsthand how “AI + consumption” is profoundly changing lives.

As I walked through the tech consumption exhibition area, I was greeted by a plethora of AI applications and achievements across multiple fields. At the entrance, a giant model of AI glasses captured attention. From a distance, the large lenses displayed scrolling green subtitles, sparking curiosity among visitors eager to learn more.

“Please say ‘Loki’ to activate the AI assistant,” flashed on the screen of the glasses. Staff from the Rokid booth explained that when worn, users can activate the glasses by simply calling its name. The glasses can provide weather updates, identify surroundings, translate foreign menus, and even facilitate payments by scanning QR codes.

The interactive features of these glasses, made possible by embedding chips and batteries into a slim frame, drew gasps of amazement from the crowd.

However, AI’s journey from concept to practicality is not limited to just glasses. At the booth of Yushu Technology Co., a humanoid robot engaged in handshakes and dance with attendees. Chen Tong, the manager responsible for online sales, shared that the robot is powered by a large model that allows users to control it through voice commands, primarily for entertainment and cultural tourism.

At the Sinopec energy supply station booth, the humanoid robot demonstrated a seamless process of removing a fuel nozzle, filling a disposable cup, and returning the nozzle to its holder.

At the Taishan Sports Industry Group booth, a cyclist scanned a QR code on the bike’s screen with their phone, entering a mini-program. The moment they pedaled, the screen displayed cycling time, speed, heart rate, and calories burned.

According to Song Kun, the head of the company’s branding department, these capabilities are supported not only by the bike’s hardware but also by the underlying data and software.

AI’s influence extends beyond the tech consumption exhibition area. In the national goods exhibition area, a humanoid robot from Li Gong Industrial Co. was seen calligraphing the character “福” (fortune), attracting numerous visitors for photos and inquiries.

Ma Chenchen, the company’s client manager, explained the technology behind this: they first had a calligrapher write several times to collect data on the movements of the joints, which was then input into a specialized server. With the support of algorithms and computational power, the data was optimized and fed into the robot’s brain for reinforcement learning. Once trained to a certain level, the robot can execute commands sent via voice or connected devices.

“The key to robot intelligence lies in data collection from real people, followed by computational power and algorithmic optimization to create a supportive data environment for its intelligent functions,” Ma explained. He emphasized that computational power is akin to intelligence, while algorithms are the methods for solving equations. In Guangdong, this work is supported by computational resources from Gansu.

The AI wave is surging forward.