ChinAI Newsletter
Narrations of the ChinAI Newsletter by Jeffrey Ding.
China is becoming an indispensable part of the global AI landscape. Alongside the rise of China’s AI capabilities, a surge of Chinese writing and scholarship on AI-related topics is shedding light on a range of fascinating topics, including: China’s grand strategy for advanced technology like AI, the characteristics of key Chinese AI actors (e.g. companies and individual thinkers), and the ethical implications of AI development.
While traditional media and China specialists can provide important insights on these questions through on-the-ground reporting and extensive background knowledge, ChinAI takes a different approach: it bets on the proposition that for many of these issues, the people with the most knowledge and insight are Chinese people themselves who are sharing their insights in Chinese. Through translating articles and documents from government departments, think tanks, traditional media, and newer forms of “self-media,” etc., ChinAI provides a unique look into the intersection between a country that is changing the world and a technology that is doing the same.
Latest episodes
Apr 29, 2024 • 10min
“ChinAI #263: A History of the Chinese Computer” by Jeffrey Ding
Jeffrey Ding, Assistant Professor of Political Science at George Washington University, delves into the historical significance of Chinese computing, from surpassing English typists in speed to adapting Western computers for Chinese language use. The podcast explores key figures, technologies, and collaborations that shaped Chinese computing over six decades, including the role of industrial AI, US-China scientific collaboration, and undersea cables in global technology advancements.
Apr 22, 2024 • 8min
“ChinAI #262: Expert Draft AI Law Changelog” by Jeffrey Ding
Exploring the evolving draft AI law in China, including the creation of CAI, structured oversight, safety assessments, tax incentives. Implications of the law on governance, role of AI Ethics Committee, updates on Castraft versions and GW China Conference.
Apr 15, 2024 • 8min
“ChinAI #261: First results from CAICT’s AI Safety Benchmark” by Jeffrey Ding
Guest Matt Sheehan, author of CSET primer, discusses CAICT's AI Safety Benchmark results, model evaluations, and Chinese AI developments. The podcast highlights the importance of consistent evaluation systems for AI safety in China and provides insights into the industrial applications of large models in the country.
Apr 8, 2024 • 8min
“ChinAI #260: Why are so many young Chinese people joining the Momo army?” by Jeffrey Ding
The podcast delves into the phenomenon of young Chinese people joining the Momo army for online anonymity. It explores the reasons behind this trend, the risks and benefits of adopting a pseudonymous identity, and the sense of community and freedom 'Momos' experience in China's online sphere. The episode also discusses evolving AI regulations and government involvement in this digital landscape.
Mar 25, 2024 • 8min
“ChinAI #259: Year 6 of ChinAI (The Rise and Fall of Technological Leadership)” by Jeffrey Ding
The podcast discusses the impact of technological revolutions on economic power shifts, introducing general purpose technologies and analyzing historical cases. It challenges traditional theories and explores institutional factors driving power shifts, drawing parallels to the US-China tech rivalry.
Mar 18, 2024 • 7min
“ChinAI #258: Is translation already dead in the AI era?” by Jeffrey Ding
Delving into the impact of AI on translation, comparing AI tools like ChatGPT to Google Translate. Discussing how AI struggles with complex content and nuances. Drawing parallels between human translators as chefs and AI translators as fast-food providers.
Mar 11, 2024 • 7min
“ChinAI #257: Can Chinese companies keep up with Sora?” by Jeffrey Ding
The podcast delves into Chinese companies trying to match Sora's AI advancements, focusing on Shengshu-AI and its Tsinghua professor chief scientist. It explores China's progress in video generation, comparing methods with Sora. Additionally, it covers private hacking contractors in China, leaked documents revealing practices, and the tech-government alliance in surveillance.
Mar 4, 2024 • 8min
“ChinAI #256: Around the Horn (14th edition)” by Jeffrey Ding
In this podcast, they discuss recent advancements in AI from China, including Baidu's innovations and tech industry predictions. They also cover diverse updates in the AI industry, problematic apps, and AI innovations in archaeology and environmental impacts. The episode invites reader participation in selecting featured content.
Feb 26, 2024 • 10min
“ChinAI #255: Panic buying, speculative booms, and whack-a-mole — what lengths will Chinese companies go to get an NVIDIA A100 chip?” by Jeffrey Ding
Chinese companies are going to great lengths to acquire NVIDIA A100 chips, even resorting to panic buying and speculative booms. The podcast explores the intense competition in the market, trade restrictions, and the emergence of the A800 as a substitute. It also delves into the role of computing power in AI governance and career opportunities.
Feb 12, 2024 • 6min
“ChinAI #254: Tencent Res. Institute Tackles Value Alignment in Large Model Security & Ethics Research Report” by Jeffrey Ding
Tencent Research Institute's report delves into large model security practices and value alignment in AI models. They discuss vulnerability assessments, protection of source code, and global AI safety developments
