“The digital transformation can generate enormous productivity and AI is the fundamental engine of the next industrial revolution. Provided that technological nationalisms do not prevail,” Mike Bai, President of Strategy Marketing, Western Europe, Huawei Technologies.
Mike Bai, President of Strategy Marketing, Western Europe, Huawei Technologies
Emerging technologies are driving a new industrial revolution around the globe, and artificial intelligence (AI) has undoubtedly become the main force that will fully unleash the potential of new technologies.
AI’s focus is currently shifting from consumer applications to industrial applications. AI in the industrial environment will be the foundation of digital transformation and business innovation, leading to a new phase of growth and the advancement of theories and technologies.
Artificial intelligence has attracted more and more attention since 2006, and today it plays an important role in our daily lives. Deep learning has led to important technological breakthroughs, such as voice or image recognition and the development of natural language. Today, many industrial sectors are interested in AI to accelerate the new industrial revolution.
Artificial intelligence will be the basis for a digital transformation and unprecedented business innovation. By changing the way we work, artificial intelligence helps companies make the most of practical experience, transforming traditional work and even becoming the factor of production. This transformation will generate enormous technological productivity, guaranteeing economic growth. It will offer completely new paths to success and growth for the production sector, services and other sectors, reshaping the world economy and creating new opportunities for the development of society.
Lately, AI has become a legitimate part of any company’s automation strategy and a key driver for the next industrial revolution. However, the development of artificial intelligence is threatened by technological nationalism and reduced globalization, as most companies will not be able to achieve their own AI goals by working independently. Defensive political strategies will not only undermine the expansion of Artificial Intelligence, but will also have another negative impact on many of the world’s economies and on the progress of many industrial sectors. The European Union is the best current example of the vulnerability of international cooperation at this time: for decades, EU members have formed an unparalleled internal market, taking advantage of cross-border partnerships and common innovations. If the trends of individual national commitments take precedence, this will be a step backwards for all.
Track AI: An extraordinary effort internationally
We are already working to make it possible to share knowledge across borders, promoting AI-based projects that will address the many challenges facing the world today, for example in the healthcare sector.
The TrackAI project is a joint effort at international level, meant to really make a difference: there are about 19 million blind children in the world. 70% of them could have normal eyesight if the deficit was detected early. Visual screening programs are the best tool to reduce the percentage of undiagnosed vision disorders. Unqualified or trained persons must be able to identify children at risk of developing vision problems and refer them to a specialist who can diagnose and treat them.
An easy-to-use, portable and convenient device for identifying these children with visual pathologies should be created as soon as possible. This is the main goal of the TrackAI project.
The development of an AI-based system requires the collection of data from thousands of children. During this unique collaboration between Huawei and the Spanish-based start-up Dive, 18 ophthalmologists from 5 countries on 3 continents will collect data from children with normal vision development or a wide range of vision impairments. Huawei is working with global research centers in Spain, Mexico, Russia, Vietnam and China to demonstrate once again that cross-border knowledge sharing on AI technology can have a very strong impact.
Breaking down barriers
The challenges that AI has to face are on several levels: in order to assert itself successfully in the sector and to maximize its benefits, AI will have to combine knowledge and practices in the sector, helping to meet the challenges in data collection, in learning models and in their management. The major challenges in implementing AI in the industrial environment are insufficient understanding of indicators in the sector and insufficient experience in functional engineering to guide model optimization.
At the same time, these industrial sectors also face political risks, such as technological nationalism: this term describes government policies or actions that directly or indirectly favor information and communication technology products and services sold by companies headquartered in the country. Modeled by nationalist and isolationist tendencies that undermine confidence in the multilateral system, technological nationalism can not only threaten the further development of artificial intelligence, but can also affect the supply chain and related industries, with negative implications for national security, trade and competitiveness. weakening global processes, such as the definition of international standards.
Connected to make full use of the potential
Technological nationalism forces companies to work alone, while progress can only be achieved through cooperation in a fully connected world. To enable synergies for valuable innovation, companies need to be able to build links with global partners and customers in different industries. A global network of partners offers promising opportunities for collaboration and interaction, as well as valuable innovation in various industrial sectors. To fully realize the potential for digital transformation around the world, which could boost economic growth and prosperity, the digital ecosystem must be fully operational. This is not possible if disconnection and isolation become the new normal. Only a fully connected world can handle the fourth industrial revolution.
