THE AI ECOSYSTEM IN CHINA

2020

BEIJING | SHANGHAI | HONG KONG

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] | March 2020

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 1
Executive Summary
This white paper defines the types of AI technology developing in China and highlights
examples of AI adoption across several industries. We shed light on the unlimited potential
that companies can leverage. In the global AI arena, China has an advantage in data and
adoption, which make China an ideal place for a company of any industry to branch out
into new high-tech endeavours.

AI will play key role in the future economic development of all nations alike. China is a
prime example of how AI is leveraged to tackle structural challenges that hinder the
country from unleashing its full economic potential. For China, the most important of these
challenges is the need to escape the middle-income trap. As already outlined in the Made
in China 2025 strategy, the Chinese government is investing considerable amount of
resources to make sure that China emerges as a world leader in AI technology. In fact, AI
industrial parks are being established across the country, in the cities of Beijing and
Shanghai, and the provinces of Guizhou and Guangdong as the main contenders for the
title of AI capital of Asia and perhaps the world.

With this project, daxue consulting decided to help both foreign and domestic companies
learn about the current trends in the tech economy and applications of AI in industry. First,
this white paper on the state of Artificial Intelligence is divided in three macro sections.
The first section concerns the overview and market size of AI in China. In this part, the data
regarding the different uses of AI technology across industries are shown in charts which
highlight the promising trends of AI technology in China. Furthermore, at the end of this
section we show how some companies are developing AI ecosystems that include smart
transportation, education, robotics, biotechnology, security and more. The second section
is goes further into the AI adoption in several industries. The topics covered are AI in the
beauty industry, the new retail sector, the manufacturing sector, the transportation industry,
the healthcare sector, the hospitality industry, the video game industry; public institutions,
and advertising. The articles provide in-depth analyses of all the aforementioned sectors
of the Chinese economy and the country’s projected economic development over the next
few years. Finally, the third and conclusive section of the paper provides information about
daxue consulting and how businesses can contact us for tailor made research designed to
answer the specific needs, whether new to China or already established in the market.

This white paper has been updated since the COVID-19 outbreak to
include the latest AI contributions to fighting the virus in China.
While investigating the relationship between AI and the Coronavirus in China, we found
unprecedented tech advancements in big data or AI in an effort to contain the outbreak. In
fact, according to a WHO report that lists the finding of an expert investigation team sent
to China between February 16 and 24, 2020, “the implementation of [the] containment
measures has been supported and enabled by the innovative and aggressive use of cutting
edge technologies.” The section on AI and Combating COVID-19 explains what some of
these technologies used during the recent outbreak are.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 2
 INDEX
Part One
INTRODUCTION

THE MAIN SECTORS COVERED BY AI

MARKET SIZE OF AI TECHNOLOGY IN CHINA
DISTRIBUTION OF AI COMPANIES BY INDUSTRY
INVESTMENTS IN AI
TECH PARKS
CHINESE PERCEPTIONS OF AI
NETIZENS’ PERCEPTION OF AI

TYPES OF AI IN CHINA

MACHINE LEARNING
NATURAL LANGUAGE PROCESSING
EXPERT SYSTEMS
ROBOTICS
COMPUTER AND MACHINE VISION
SPEECH

CASE STUDIES

Part Two

AI DEVELOPMENTS IN CHINESE INDUSTRIES

AI AND COMBATING COVID-19

AI IN HEALTHCARE
AI IN BEAUTY
AI IN NEW RETAIL
AI IN MANUFACTURING
AI IN TRANSPORTATION
AI IN FOOD AND BEVERAGE
AI IN VIDEO GAMES
AI USAGE BY PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
AI IN ADVERTISEMENT
AI IN HOSPITALITY

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 3
 Part One
INTRODUCTION

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 4
 THE HISTORY OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) IN
CHINA
Along with the gradual maturation of artificial intelligence (AI) technology observed in
recent years, many industry giants in China progressively increased their investment
in this new market. The burgeoning applications of AI technology have also
expanded the scope of this technology from niche research fields to broader
commercial areas. In fact, today, AI has broad market prospects, particularly in China.
Besides being among the leading nations—in terms of AI research output, China is
ideally positioned for the rapid development of AI technology. With its population of
1.4 billion and some of the world’s foremost AI research centers like Tsinghua
University, Shanghai Jiaotong University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences,
China disposes of enough data and brainpower to make significant breakthroughs in
AI technology.1

Since the development of big data,

cloud computing, Internet of things
2011 and other information technologies,
AI started to enter a rapid growing
stage.

Computer vision start-ups

flooded the security market.
2012

Chinese Congress on Artificial

2015 Intelligence in Beijing gave the
direction of AI-related industries in
China.

AI was included in the

Chinese government report,
as a national strategy in
2017
China.

AI ushered in the first year of

commercial applications in China.
2018 More than 1,000 AI-related
companies in China

1
40 Years of AI Development History, finance.sina.com.cn

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 5
 THE MAIN SECTORS COVERED BY AI
Delving into the AI market in China, we see that this technology already covers a wide
range of segments. Some of the most dynamic areas include what daxue consulting
defines as the basic layer—the basic parts and algorithms of AI products; the
technology layer—technologies which support AI products—and applications, which
are the AI products in the different industries. In the graph below, we have clustered
Chinese companies, which make use of AI technology into four groups, depending on
which specific segment the company’s focus on: Applications, Technology, Basic,
and Comprehensive, which refers to those companies that are working in all three
areas.

China’s Artificial Intelligence Companies

Applications

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 6
 Technology

Base

Comprehensive

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 7
 MARKET SIZE OF AI TECHNOLOGY IN CHINA
China's artificial intelligence industry is becoming one of the most important in the
world. However, the market of AI in China is not mature yet and there is still a large
space for development. In 2018, the size of China’s artificial intelligence market
reached 33.9 billion RMB and the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) was more
than 44% between 2015 and 2018. By 2020, the market size is expected to reach 71
billion RMB.2

China's artificial intelligence market size

(billion RMB, 2015-2020)
71

50
33.9
21.69
11.24 14.19

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019E 2020E

DISTRIBUTION OF AI COMPANIES BY INDUSTRY

The AI-related companies established in 2018 mainly belong to the security, speech
interaction and healthcare industries 3. These areas have strong market demand and
mature technology applications. A large portion of China's AI market share is from
speech, computer vision and natural language processing technologies.

The number of AI-related companies established in

2018 by industry
Security 16
Speech interaction 10
Healthcare 10
Image recognition 8
Finance 8
SLAM 7
Autonomous 5
AI chip 5
Retail 5
Robotics 4
Others 22

2
2019 China AI Market Analysis, bg.qianzhan.com
3
Qinghua University, Chinese AI Development 2018

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 8
 China's AI market share by industry
(2017)

25%
35% Speech
Computer Vision

21%
Natural Language
Algorithm 8% Processing
11%

Hardware

DISTRIBUTION OF AI STARTUPS BY REGION

AI companies are mainly concentrated in China’s economically developed first and
second-tier cities and coastal areas. Inland provinces are starting to grasp the
development boom as well. Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hangzhou are ranked
among the Top 20 in the world for the quantity and industrial output of AI companies.
As a result of its large and talented workforce, industrial resources and capital, which
were superior to other regions and cities, Beijing recorded the highest number of AI
companies.4

Number of AI companies by province in 2018

1 Beijing 395

2 Shanghai 210

3 Shenzhen 119

4 Hangzhou 63

5 Guangzhou 46

4
Deloitte Chinese AI Innovation whitepaper

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 9
 INVESTMENTS IN AI
In 2018, the investment value in China’s AI industry reached 131.1 billion RMB, which
is an increase of about 67.7 billion RMB compared to 2017. The scale of the
investments granted China the first position in the world ranking. Although the
growth of AI financing events slowed down in 2018, the total investment value still
increased significantly. Large financing events occurred frequently, and capital was
more concentrated in leading companies5.

Investment value and the number of financing events in

China’s AI industry
(2012-2018)
597

518
487
345

159
131.1
25 37.2 63.4
26.8
5.8 9.8

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Investment value (Billion RMB) Number of financing events

WHY IS AI DEVELOPING SO FAST IN CHINA?

The ubiquity of the mobile Big data and computing

Internet power
China has a massive base of The fast-growing big data and cloud
smartphone users. Mobile internet computing effectively improve
users create large amounts of data, machine learning and cognitive ability.
which is the fuel that AI technology In recent years, especially in specific
consumes to develop. By using apps application fields, there has been a
on smart-phones, individual users can great development in machine
easily control products, such as learning usage, which is a precondition
smart-speakers and clearing-robots. for the creation of new AI technology.

5
Data Source: IiMedia, Chinese AI Industry 2018 report

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 10
 TECH PARKS
In order to promote AI’s development, the Chinese government launched a series of
AI industrial parks in the eastern and southern parts of the country. In 2018, China
had more than 60 AI tech parks. Industrial parks usually have preferential policies to
attract AI companies, such as rental subsidies and tax concessions.6

Beijing 1
5 AI tech parks 2

1 4
3
1
2 Shanghai
3
2
6 AI tech
4 parks
2
2
2
2 5
2
3 2
Guizhou Province 2

6 AI tech parks 2
Guangdong Province
7 AI tech parks

Cities AI industrial parks

Beijing Zhongguancun Software Park, Mentougou AI Park, Vpark, etc.

Shanghai Qingpu District AI Park, Linggang AI Industrial Park, etc.

Hangzhou Binjiang AI Industrial Park, Hangzhou AI Town, etc.

Shenzhen Shenzhen Bay AI Tech Park, Longhua AI Industrial Park, etc.

Nansha AI Industrial Park, Guangzhou International AI Study

Guangzhou
Park, etc.

Nanjing AI demonstration zone, Xingang High-tech AI Base, etc.

6
Data Source: Deloitte Chinese AI Innovation whitepaper

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 11
 CHINESE PERCEPTIONS OF AI
An important element in the development of AI technology is the potential consumer
perception of AI based products. The cocktail of information that has been
surrounding AI research and its applications has created confusion among lay
readers. In fact, catastrophist Hollywood movies like Terminator, or the nefarious
predictions of famous entrepreneurs like Elon Musk come to the mind of many
people, whenever they hear or read about artificial intelligence. In order to get an idea
of what Chinese netizens think of AI, daxue consulting conducted a sentiment
analysis on the platform Zhihu. Zhihu is the first Q&A website in China and has
transitioned to a social media sharing platform, gathering more than 100 million
answers on various topics. The platform is especially relevant for inquiries regarding
higher- and well-educated social classes.

On Zhihu, the most

common questions and
posts about AI consist
of the following:

 How will AI change

people’s lives in the
future?

 Which industries will

be replaced by AI in
In which industries will AI replace workers in the next 30 the future?
years?
 How to protect
 How will AI change industries
 AlphaGo versus Lee Sedol personal privacy when
 AI and art using AI products?
 AI and healthcare and academia

With the rapid development of AI, what should we do about our personal
privacy?
With the development of AI and the Internet, many smart devices can record
personal information, including conversations we have.
According to industry insiders, manufacturers of smart devices collect and
retain as much data as possible to improve their products, but they also sell the
data to advertisers for money.
www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 12
 NETIZENS’ PERCEPTION OF AI
Through a sentiment analysis on WeChat and Weibo, we unveil reasons netizens give
for perceiving AI as having a positive or negative impact on their lives and the society
in general.

Positive perceptions of AI
According to internet users, AI can play a very important role in facilitating the daily
life of citizens. Some of the most frequently cited reasons on Weibo and WeChat for
embracing the introduction of AI technology in the society are the following:

AI can help to improve traffic conditions and reduce the occurrence of road
crimes
AI can improve the diagnosis and treatment efficiency in the healthcare
industry
AI can promote the innovation of teaching methods

Fears of AI
Despite the many positive opinions on AI that internet users share, some reservations
regarding the more nefarious side of AI have emerged on social media. The following
are some of the more common concerns on WeChat and Weibo:

AI could cause social problems, such as mass unemployment in some

industries.
AI brings challenges to personal information protection.
Autonomous driving technology cannot deal with emergencies with the same
urgency as humans.

Ask an expert

In general, there is a huge appetite for technology in

People are willing to try any tech gear. The environment is
very positive for technology”

Olivier Tollet, Greater China Enterprise Director at Cushman & Wakefield

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 13
 TYPES OF AI IN CHINA

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 14
 MACHINE LEARNING
What is machine learning?
Machine learning is an algorithm-based application of artificial intelligence that
provides systems with the ability to automatically learn and improve from experience
without being explicitly programmed. It lies at the core of artificial intelligence. In fact,
AI breakthroughs depend on the progress made in machine learning techniques and
their ability to emancipate as much as possible machines from human intervention.
Algorithms in machine learning include supervised learning, unsupervised learning,
reinforcement learning, feature learning, sparse dictionary learning, anomaly learning,
and association rules.

Main Players in China

Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent all have open-source machine learning platforms, which
rely on machine learning. Baidu’s Paddlepaddle is the first Chinese open source
machine learning platform, its applications include OCR, autopilot, image recognition,
virus detection, translation and precise information recommendations. PaddlePaddle
is fit for individual developers than enterprises. Alibaba’s DTPAI has voice and image
recognition, as well as urban traffic computing capabilities, and enterprise cloud
computing. Tencent’s Angel’s service target is enterprises with big data processing
needs as it is fit for high performance computing of large-scale data. Applications
include Tencent video, social, advertising and user portrait mining. Developed outside
of BAT, Seetatech is the only open-source machine learning project that started in
Chinese academia. Its main application is face recognition, which it accomplishes
with a low hardware threshold of a single Intel i7.

Applications of machine learning

Online Search:
Perhaps it is the most famous application of machine learning. The
program observes how the user responds to the results when the latter
uses a search engine.
If the user chooses the top-result, and remains on that webpage, the
machine learning program assumes that the user just found what he or she was
looking for. If the user chooses a result on the second page of the search engine,
then, the program surmises that the search engine could not find the results the user
was looking for.

Healthcare:
Machine learning algorithms can process more information and spot
more patterns than their human counterparts can. Additionally, machine
learning can be used to understand risk factors for disease in large
populations.

Smart Cars:
A smart car can not only integrate into the Internet of Things (IoT), but
also learn about its owner and its environment. It might adjust the
internal settings — temperature, audio, seat position, etc. —

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 15
automatically based on the driver. In addition to autonomous driving, it can report
and even fix mechanical problems, and offer real time advice about traffic and road
conditions.

Data Security:
Malware is a huge and growing problem. Their learning model has only
2–10% variations, and we can predict which files are malware with great
accuracy. In other situations, machine learning algorithms can look for
patterns in how data in the cloud is accessed, and report anomalies that
could predict security breaches.

Product Analysis
Autonomous electric cars:
NIO is a Chinese electric smart car producer. It uses machine learning to build its
own autopilot system. In June 2019, its second generation of autonomous cars
entered the market. Machine learning is the core of the autopilot systems. After
becoming a hot topic, some of the more established Chinese car companies started
to develop autopilot technology.7

Dark factories:
Foxconn, the world’s largest foundry, uses robots for production in China. It currently
has 10 fully automated production lines. At some Foxconn smartphone-component,
factories are entirely manufactured by robots. Because there are no humans on the
assembly line, there is no need to light the factories, hence the term “dark factories”.
This is possible due to machine learning and AI equipment.8

Finance:
Ant Financial is one of China's financial service agencies. Through machine learning
in Micro credit and Credit Pay business, the false trading rate was reduced to 1/10th
the previous rate. Alipay Document Audit System, based on machine learning,
shortens document checking time from one day to one second. Applications of
machine learning in financial institutions can include finding business opportunities,
personalized customer service, and preventing fraud. 9

Healthcare:
In 2017, the Guangxi province people's hospital started to use an esophageal cancer
screening system developed by Tencent to assist the doctor's clinical diagnosis, with
an accuracy as high as 90%. The Chinese AI company iCarbonX built a big data
platform specialized on health management, called MiWo (觅我). The platform can
analyse users' health condition based on aspects like physical activity, diet and skin
condition.

7
Auto-testing.net
8
www.elecfans.com
9
Uses of AI in Finance report, 36Ke

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 16
 NATURAL LANGUAGE PROCESSING
What is natural language processing (NLP)?
Natural language processing (NLP) is a subfield of artificial intelligence concerned
with the interactions between computers and human (natural) languages. In
particular, this field becomes relevant to understand how to program computers to
process and analyse large amounts of natural language data. Types of natural
language processing include voice recognition, parsing, natural language
understanding and generation, text categorization, information retrieval and
extraction, and question answering.

Market size and investments

By June 2017, China's total investment value for the natural language processing
industry reached 12.2 billion RMB, which ranked second among all AI fields. 92
natural language processing start-ups were founded during 2017. 10

In Nov 2018, Grand Data raised 160 million RMB in series B funding. It set a new
financing record in the field of natural language processing in China.

Xiaomi technology co. LTD applied Xiaoai (virtual assistant based on natural
language) to its smart devices such as phones, audio equipment, television sets, etc.
By October 2018, more than 100 million smart devices were activated and there were
more than 34 million monthly active users.

The revenue of IFLYTEK‘s B2C business based on natural language processing

reached 2.52 billion RMB in 2018, up 96.54% compared with 2017.

Main players in China

The following companies are some of the top players in NLP:

Microsoft focuses on developing natural language understanding and computer

vision technologies.
Sogou built a popular search input method software with natural language
processing technology.
iFLYTEK is the first listed company in China’s natural language processing
industry. Its NLP technology is applied to smart education, medicine, automobile
and online services.
AISpeech provides natural language processing solutions to enterprises.
Unisound is a leading player in China’s AI service market.
Alibaba built labs to develop AI technology for its products like smart speakers.
Data Grand is devoted to the development of smart software (writing, searching,
etc.) by natural language understanding and speech synthesis.

10
Tencent’s US-China AI development report

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 17
 Applications of NLP
Intelligent Search Machine translation

Machine translation includes language

NLP tools and techniques help to language, text to speech, speech to
process, analyze, and understand speech, and text to emotion
unstructured “big data” in order to translations. iFlytek applies MT to
operate effectively and proactively. generate intelligent hardware voice
interaction solution for 2C products.

Retail Spam detection

NLP is greatly applied in both pre-sale

and after-sale customer services. NLP, combined with concepts of
machine learning, can build spam
For example, JD’s intelligent customer filters for email or SMS text messages.
service robot and voice navigation.

Finance Question Answering

NLP might allow a company to garner A question answering parses queries

insights that can assess a creditor’s for natural language questions and
risk or gauge brand-related sentiment then integrates with back-end systems
across the web. Three main to deliver direct answers rather than
applications include credit scoring, just a list of results containing the
sentiment analysis, document search. keyword.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 18
Product Analysis
Medical diagnosis chatbox:
Tencent Medpedia is a medical science information app. Based on the combination
of NPL and big data technology, its virtual assistant system can automatically
answer questions about basic medicine knowledge. It also can accurately provide
relevant knowledge about 600 kinds of diseases.

[Tencent Medpedia's virtual assistant interface]

Translation device:
iFLYTEK applies NPL technology to translation devices. Its second-generation
translators sold more than 200,000 units in five months. The latest generation of
translation machine supports photo translation based on OCR (Optical Character
Recognition) technology. It only takes two seconds to complete the translation.

[iFLYTEK’s translation device can translate over 50 languages]

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 19
 EXPERT SYSTEMS
What is an expert system?
An expert system is a computer program that is designed to emulate and mimic
human intelligence, skills or behavior. It is mainly developed using artificial
intelligence concepts, tools and technologies, and possesses expert knowledge in a
particular field, topic or skill.

Human Knowledge Knowledge Inference User

User
Expert Engineer Base Engine Interface

Expert systems are used in a wide range of fields such as science, like chemistry,
medicine, and geology, as well as agriculture, education and the military. Below are
some examples of expert systems uses:

Education: Educational resources utilization, academic performance analysis,

psychological quality assessment, online teaching, etc.
Military: Strategic planning, forecasting, combat simulation, command and
decision making.
Agricultural: Providing the index of yield and benefit. Inferring the cause of problems
and providing solutions.
Medical: Explanation, prediction, diagnosis, and treatment plans.
ooooooooooooooo
Geological: Geological disaster prediction, engineering risk assessment and
construction countermeasures.
Chemical: Chemical synthesis design, physical property estimation model
selection, equipment selection and process synthesis.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 20
Applications of expert systems

TCM computer-aided diagnosis and treatment system

Collects data from patients’ tongues, pulses etc. to compare data against
a database to diagnose according to the principles of traditional Chinese
medicine.

Forecasting agricultural diseases and pests

Expert systems can categorize diseases and pests based on geographical

regions. Users input information about diseases and pests that are
affecting their agriculture, and then the system automatically maps this
information and can apply it to calculate forecasts.

Chemical process development expert system

The system not only assists chemical engineers solve chemical

process design, development, production optimization, process
program evaluation and screening, but also improves work efficiency
and saves a labor costs.

CPNEES- expert system for coalfield exploration

Based on geological data, the system simulates the judgment of human

experts and bonds to the advantages of computer numerical
processing, which makes the exploration of coalfields more precise and
efficient.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 21
 Product analysis
Expert System for Optimizing the Production Planning (ESOPP) of Sinopec Group

The ESOPP system is based on Sinopec’s production target and actual completion in
recent years. It sues linear programming to calculate the preliminary plan of refinery
production with the goal of maximizing profit. The crude oil distribution and product
structure adjust according to the obtained expert knowledge and linear programming
information.

The purpose is to simplify the production process of petrochemical enterprises.

There are many kinds of crude oils. The system allocates the output of crude oil and
each product to maximize the economic benefits of Sinopec Group.11

The production plan formulated by this system was similar to the original plan from
Sinopec Group, reducing the difficulty of implementation. However, the system’s plan
made with less time and money.

Glaucoma diagnosis expert system based on computer image analysis

This system reads the symptoms of glaucoma using seven image characteristic
parameters through back propagation, which is an algorithm for supervised learning
of artificial neural networks using gradient descent. The training samples are
obtained from clinical data. The purpose is to improve glaucoma diagnosis by
removing objectivity and human error.

Image Diagnose
Original Image Image Image
feature the type of
image enhancement segmentation description
parameter glaucoma

This expert system realized the quantitative measurement of fundus tissues, made a
clear difference between normal and abnormal tissues, Standardized the diagnosis
process of glaucoma. It improved the accuracy, reliability, and consistency of the
diagnosis results. Also opened up a broader application prospect. 12

11
Design of Automatic Control System for Mixed C4 Solvent Deasphalting Unit, Li Jimin and Wang
Jian
12
In View of the Diagnosis Calculating System of Glaucoma, Wang Yaming and Zheng Rui

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 22
 ROBOTICS
Types of AI robots used in China
Most market demand of robots in China is for industrial robots. Service robots show
good potential in China’s market since many families accept household robots.

Market share of types of AI robots in China

(2018)

Industrial robots
8% 71%
Service robots

21%
Specialized robots

Industrial Robots

Industrial robots used for manufacturing include welding robots, transport robots,
palletizers, packaging robots, painting robots, cutting robots, and more.

Service Robots

Service robots operate semi- or fully autonomously, to perform services useful to the
well-being of humans, they usually include household/domestic robots, medical
service robots and public service robots.

Specialized Robots

Specialized robots are purpose-built for particular task, such as working in high-risk
environment. They generally include military robots, emergency rescue robots, etc. 13

13
China’s robotics industry development report, Sohu

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 23
Market size and consumption
China is the largest industrial robots market in the world, making up 1/3 of global
industrial robots demand. An increasing aging population feeds the demand for
medical and housekeeping services 14

The sales value of industrial and service robots in China

(billion USD, 2014-2019)

7.57

Sales of industrial
robots 6.23

Sales of service 5.12

robots

3.93

3.00
2.80
2.68

1.84

1.28
0.94
0.64
0.46

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019F

14
Data Source: China’s robotics industry development report, Sohu

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 24
Investments in AI robots
In 2017, the investment value of AI robotics was up to 20 billion RMB, about 29 times
of 2014. By June 2018, there have been 7,544 robot-related companies built in China.
Policy subsidies were important reasons for the rapid growth of investment in the
robotics field.

In 2018, financing activities in the field of industrial robotics were mainly

concentrated in Series A round. It means most industrial robotics companies in
China were still at the initial stage. 15

The investment value of robotics in China

(billion RMB, 2014-2017)

20

5.03
3.31
0.69

2014 2015 2016 2017

Financing activities in industrial robotics by round

(2018)
Series B, 10%

Series A, 64%
Series C, 3%

Others, 11%

Angel, 12%

15
Data Source: Online Robotics Report, RoboticsChina.com

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 25
Main Players in Robotics
Step is mainly engaged in the research & development, production and sales of
industrial automation control products. It has R&D centers and manufacturing
centers in China and Germany.

Siasun was the first listed robotics company in China. Its main business includes
industrial robots production, logistics and warehousing automation equipment,
automatic assembly machines and traffic automation systems.

Estun was founded in 1993 and listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 2015. Its
main businesses include automation core components & motion control systems
and industrial robots & intelligent manufacturing systems.

Topstar was founded in 2007 and its main business focuses on research &
development, manufacturing and sales of industrial robots.

Where industrial robots are used

Along with the progress of “industry 4.0” and “Made in China 2025”, China is
developing its manufacturing industry towards automation, integration and
intelligence. Industrial robots are becoming more and more widely used.

Ask an expert

“In China, we have a strategy of 2025 for industry 4.0,

and it’s a country level strategy. We have all the good
policies from the government side. Today in China, the
automation level is low compared with western
countries. But the demand is huge, which means that if
you have a good product if you have a good technology
you have a huge chance to succeed in the automation
business.”

Shuyang Cao, Co-Founder of Malu Innovation

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 26
 Applications of robotics

Appliances Food and beverage

The application of industrial robots in

the field of home appliances is The application of industrial robots in
inevitably driven by objective factors food and beverage consist of
such as a significant increase in labor packaging, picking, palletizing, and
costs, a gradual disappearance of processing.
China's demographic dividend and
improved manufacturing.

Chemicals Metallurgy

The chemical industry is one of the Robotic technology realizes

main application areas of industrial automation on mass scale, ensuring
robots. Faced with the requirements of continued economic competitiveness,
precision, high purity, high quality and high productivity, and at the same time
miniaturization of modern industrial alleviating heavy workloads for
products, cleaning technology brought workers.
by robots are critical for quality.

Electronics Other Manufacturing

In the field of electrical and electronic, Industrial robots are also widely used
industrial robots excel in a series of in other manufacturing workspaces to
processes such as sorting and handle tasks such as drilling and
packing, tear film systems, laser plastic fastening, inspection, welding, painting,
welding, and high-speed palletizing. sealing, collaborative assembly, etc.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 27
Industrial robot consumer analysis
Automobile and electronic (3C) companies are the two major buyers of industrial
robots in China. In addition, the product is also in demand in the field of metallurgy,
chemicals & plastics, food and beverage, etc.

While both displaying an upward consumption trend, the 3C industry in China

develops more rapidly than the automobile industry. As the second largest buyer in
China, the 3C industry shows an increasing demand for industrial robots in use of
electronic equipment manufacturing16

Main Buyers of industrial robots

(2018)

36.2%

22.6%
16.7%
13.1%
8.6%
2.8%
Automobile 3C Metallurgy Chemical and Food & Others
Plastics Beverage

Automobile vs 3C on consumption of industrial robots

(thousands of units 2015-2017)
125
2017
116

103
2016
91

98
2015
65

Automobile (thousands units) 3C (thousands units)

16
Data Source Source: Industry overview of industrial robots in 2018, qianzhan.com

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 28
 Distribution of industrial robots consumption in China
(2017)

Yangtze River Delta (24.9%)

Pearl River Delta (21.8%)
Northeast (17.5%)
Beijing-Tianjin Region (13.1%)
Central and West (12.6%)

1 Yangtze River Delta 2 Pearl River Delta 3 Northeast

The region gathers both a The Pearl River delta is Consumers in

large proportion of where the electronics Northeast are mainly
factories, who are the industry (3C) is most from the automotive
buyers of industrial developed. Major industry,
robots, and many AI customers include pharmaceutical
companies as suppliers. Huawei and Foxconn. industry, plastics and
rubber industry.
High expectation for
productivity and product There is a strong
quality have strengthened demand for industrial
the demand for industrial robots such as spot
robots in the Yangtze welding robots and
River Delta. assembly robots.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 29
 Benefits of industrial robotics

Labor cost
Along with the economic growth and currency
appreciation in China, the production costs have
increased significantly. High labor costs encourage
factories to seek cheaper substitutions; and industrial
robots are no doubt their primary choice.

Productivity
Cooperation between industrial robots and workers
can yield unprecedented productivity. High efficiency
brought by machines optimizes the manufacturing
procedure, leading to an automated production line.

Precision & Quality

Modern industrial products face increasingly strict
requirements for precision and quality. However, such
high expectations can be hardly met by human
workers. For instance, cleaning technology brought by
industrial robots is critical to product purity for buyers
in the chemical industry.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 30
 Where are robotics used – Service Robots
Service robots refer to various advanced robots other than industrial robots for
non-manufacturing use. There are two main types: personal/home service robots and
professional service robots.

Healthcare, finance, logistics, and catering are the most common industries for
public service robots. Service robots also increasingly appear in households, for
example cleaning robots, accompanying robots, entertainment robots, etc. Below are
examples where service robots are intensively used.

Personal/Domestic Professional/Specialized

Home robots, also known as

domestic robots, are a type Housekeeping
of service robot that is used Robots which roam the
primarily for household aisles of grocery stores.
chores. The most common They are programmed to
is automated vacuum. Grocery do self check-out, monitor
inventory, clean up spills and
other work that was
Robots can be made to originally done by human
watch, hear, monitor and labor.
speak on demand. It takes Security
pictures, records videos,
makes phone calls and Hospitals can program
protects the home through robots to distribute
video surveillance. Medicine medication to patients. They
can also be programmed to
interface with intelligent
elevators to reach any floor
Another key area for
and return to the hospital
domestic robots is for social
Recreation pharmacy for refilling.
interaction. Many of these
are designed to help the
elderly and children. Education is a major
application for service
Education robots. Robotic toys are
readily available for children
of all ages and can help kids
start to think about how
Elderly people living in
things work from an early
assisted care facilities or
Assistance age.
nursing homes also benefit
from robots.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 31
Consumer analysis: Household Service Robots
Post-90s and Post-80s are the main buyers of domestic service robots. About 80% of
the consumers earns a monthly income over 5,000 RMB. People who are younger in
age with a higher income tend to show more purchase power, holding a higher price
acceptance.17

Age distribution robot consumers in China

(2019)

35.5% 36.3%

17.7%

10.4%

<30 31-40 41-50 >51

Monthly income distribution of Domestic robots customers

(2019)

21% 21%
<5,000 RMB

5,000-10,000 RMB

10,000-20,000 RMB
25%
33% >20,000 RMB

17
Data Source: “User Behavior Analysis of Personal / Family Service Robot”, China Academic Journal
Electronic Publishing House, January 2019.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 32
 Education level of household robot customers
(2019)

Doctorat degree &

18 9.7%
above

Master degree 34.7%

Bachelor’s degree 42.7%

High school
12.9%
diploma

Geographic distribution of household service robots customers

(2019)

3%
62%

18%

17%

Top cities Tier-2 cities Tier-3 cities Others

18
Data Source: “User Behavior Analysis of Personal / Family Service Robot”, China Academic Journal
Electronic Publishing House, January 2019.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 33
 COMPUTER AND MACHINE VISION
What is computer & machine vision?
Computer vision

Computer vision (CV) is an interdisciplinary field that deals with how computers can
gain high-level understanding from digital images or videos. From the perspective
of engineering, it seeks to automate tasks that the human visual system can do.

Machine vision

Machine vision (MV) is the technology and methods used to provide imaging-based
automatic inspection and analysis for such applications as automatic
inspection, process control, and robot guidance, usually in industry.

Market size and consumption

Since machine & computer vision can effectively reduce labor costs, the demands for
the technology are wider and wider in China, such as security, finance, etc. China is
one of the largest machine vision markets in the world.19

The market size of China’s machine vision industry

(billion RMB, 2017-2020)
15.2

12.5

10.4

8.5

2017 2018 2019F 2020F

19
2018 China Machine Vision Industry Development Prospects, Prediction and Investment
Recommendations, Gongkong.ofweek.com

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 34
Main players in the vision sector

Industry leaders (in no particular order)

HIKVISION Technology Co., ltd.

The company commits to
continuously improving video
processing and analysis
technologies. It is the world's
Zhejiang Dahua Technology Co., leading supplier of video
ltd. A leading monitoring product surveillance products and
supplier and solution provider. solutions.
Video storage, front end, display
control, intelligent transportation
series products.

Beijing Megvii Co., Ltd. A company

focusing on face recognition and
artificial intelligence. Create the
CloudWalk Technology Co., Ltd. industry-leading face recognition
The company focuses on products, leading the financing of
developing computer & machine vision technology.
vision technologies. Its
technologies used in finance,
security, transportation and other
key industries.

YITU network technology Co., Ltd

A computer vision technology
company that works on information
acquisition and human-computer
Second2None Technology Co., Ltd. interaction products based on
The company commits to the image understanding.
application development of
machine vision products,
embedded machine vision system
research and development,
production and sales.
ADLINK Technology Inc. PC based
add-on cards and platform
provider. The company provides
leading edge computing solutions
that support the transition to
connected Industrial IoT systems.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 35
Where computer vision is used20

Market share of China’s computer vision applications

according to usage
(2017)
Security image
analysis
Advertising and
marketing
68% Pan-financial
authentication
Internet
entertainment

1% Smart phones
2% 4%
Others
8%
18%

Financial Advertising and Security image

authentication marketing analysis

7.7% 18.1% 67.8%

Card identification, Image recognition Face recognition and

document identification, technology helps clients video monitoring
fingerprint identification, better understand technology can quickly
face verification and iris products and provides identify people, verify
verification technologies more advertising space suspects, and analyze
can verify the identity of for merchants. Intelligent the subjects actions and
analysis of video content,
customers, conduct behavior trajectory. They
the placement of
remote business and also can be used for
advertising in the
extract key information public security control,
corresponding scene can
from documents enhance the effect traffic security, and
criminal investigation.

20 Data Source： 2017-2018 China’s calculator vision market research report, iimedia

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 36
Vision technology consumer analysis
According to the market share, the government, smartphone companies and financial
institutions constitute the top 3 fields of computer vision applications.

Media companies
Government
Advertisers use the
Search for criminals
technology to build
in its multifarious
various forms of
video surveillance
interactive scenes.
system.
Intelligent mining
Crowd analysis,
image content
prevention and early
advertising space,
warning in crowded
build a new
transportation hubs.
marketing model.

VISION
Financial TECHNOLOGY
institutions USERS
Smartphone
In the financial field,
companies
identification and
intelligent payment Smartphones use
will improve the face swiping for
efficiency and quality payment, identity,
of security and Internet album classification,
payment. companies and editing.
Open an account Image beautification,
remotely, withdraw augmented reality,
money without card, image and video
transfer transaction editing.
confirmation.
Helping people more
easily access
products, by
searching images
and buying while
looking.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 37
Reasons of purchase

Government

With the acceleration of urbanization, a large

number of migrants are pouring into cities;
the large demographic influxes make it
difficult to manage urban populations.

After the June 1 robbery in Nanjing, Nanjing

police extracted nearly 2,000T of video data
from more than 10,000 cameras in the city,
and mobilized more than 1,500 police
officers to search for video clues, which took
more than a month.

According to Xu, co-founder of SenseTime,

the two facial recognition systems they
provided identified 69 criminal suspects in
the first 40 days of operation in Chongqing
last year.

Changes in social Financial institutions

environment National policies support face recognition
technology, which it firstly used by major
domestic banks for promotion and
increased trading volumes in the financial
sector.
New customer-friendly
Human eye judgment, SMS verification and
authentication methods bank card binding.

Remote account opening, remote identity

authentication and remote payment can be
verified through face recognition
New computer vision- technology. 21

based methods

21
2018 AI Industry Status and Company Simple Analysis, Maggie Wu and Silvia Wei, hexun.com

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 38
 SPEECH
What is AI speech?
AI speech is the ability of a machine or program to identify words and phrases in
spoken language and convert them to a machine-readable format. It works through
the process of extracting text transcriptions or some form of information from
speech inputs.

INPUT ENCODE DECODE OUTPUT

Market size and consumption

China’s AI speech market had surging growth in recent years, the main reasons are
the fast developing mobile Internet and the increasingly popular smart speakers
among consumers.22

Market size of China’s AI speech industry

(billion RMB–2014-2018)
15.0

10.6

6.2

4.2
3.0

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

22
Data Source: China AI Speech Industry Development Trends and Predictions, Chyxx.com

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 39
Main players in the AI speech sector23

Market share of brands in China

(2018)
iFLYTEK Baidu Apple Nuance Others

18%
44%
3%
7%

28%

Apple Baidu IFYTEK

7% 28% 44%
Users can search for Baidu adopts the IFLYTEK is a well-known
information through internationally leading AI company in the
voice control and text. integrated modelling Asia-Pacific region.
Meanwhile, they can algorithm of speech Since its establishment,
also see reviews and language to quickly and it has been engaged in
even book reservations accurately identify the research of core
and tickets. However, its speech and text. It also technologies such as
biggest feature is the supports multiple speech, natural
human-computer scenarios, such as language understanding,
interaction, which not mobile phone machine learning and
only has a very vivid application speech autonomous learning. It
dialogue interface, but interaction, speech is committed to making
also responds to users’ content analysis and machines that are able
inquiries with precise robot dialogue. to listen, speak and
answers. process information.

23
Data Source: Public Information organized by Qianzhan.com

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 40
Where is AI speech used

Chinese continuous
language recognition can Dictation
greatly reduce the obstacles Systems
of computer applications
People can control the
and simplify the way of
television, VCD, air
information processing. Domestic
conditioning, fan and curtain
appliances
by voice, so that all kinds of
electrical appliances can be
operated easily.
In terms of education, AI
Language
speech technology can
teaching
increase students’ interests
in learning.
With AI speech technology,
Intelligent children can talk to their toys
toys and command them to
complete some simple tasks
by voice.
Commands are issued to the
machine by voice, and then Industry and
the machine responds by medical
voice. This is useful when fields
the operator‘s eyes or hands
are occupied.
Telephone Voice recognition technology
query enables telephone inquiries,
automatic wiring and
specialized services.
Speech recognition can bring
efficiency which a keyboard Smart
input can’t. The interaction devices
between devices and users
can create household tech
such as smart speakers.
Automobile Speech recognition is used
voice control in the operation of GPS, air
conditioning, lighting and
audio equipment.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 41
Consumer analysis
The main personal consumers of AI speech products are 26-35 years old men with a
family and relatively high income. 24

Gender Income

62% are men Half make more than

8K RMB per month

AI Speech Product
Consumer
Demographics

Marital Status Age

66% are married 53% are between 26

and 35
24
Data Source: Shenzhen China Commerce Statistical Department

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 42
Where do consumers live?
Consumers are mainly from the developed areas and cities, people living in those
regions are more willing to purchase AI speech-based products in order to facilitate
their daily life.25

Consumers distribution by cities

(2018)

54% live in tier-1 cities

AI speech product consumer frequency of use

(2018)

41.9%

33.3%

15.5%

3.5%

Every day 3-4 times per week 1 time per week 1 time per half month

25
Data Source: Shenzhen China Commerce Statistical Department

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 43
 CASE STUDIES

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 44
 Mariedalgar & Unmanned Stores
Mariedalgar is a Chinese cosmetics brand using AI technology since 2015. The brand
launched its unmanned lipstick vending machine in 2015 and built China’s first
unmanned beauty shop named “TO GO” in 2018.

Unmanned vending machine

After scanning the machine’s QR
code, customers enter the product
page. They can browse lipstick
shades and purchase a mini lipstick
for only 5 RMB. The whole shopping
experience can last less than 1
minute and 30 seconds.
The unmanned vending machine
sells high quality lipsticks in smaller
sizes, cheaper price through a much
more novel experience.

Unmanned beauty shop

Inside Mariedalgar’s unmanned
beauty shops are self-service
vending machines, shopping guider
robots, AR virtual makeup, and
more. Consumers purchase
cosmetics through QR codes.
The unmanned shops improve
shopping experience and meet the
young consumers’ demands for
interests and fashion.
The brand collects consumer
information and makes
personalized product
recommendations.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 45
 Ratio Café’s state-of-the-art robot
Ratio Café is a Chinese coffee shop with a state-of-the-art robot modeled after the
arm and hand of a real bartender. Customers order on a WeChat mini-program or by
scanning the QR code and can watch the robot prepare their orders in front of them.
Consumers can also customize their coffee or cocktail when ordering. The orders are
ready in 2-3 minutes. By having robot bartenders, a coffee shop or bar can effectively
attract customers who are keen on high tech or those looking for a novel experience.
Besides, coffee shops also can save part of costs since they have less human
workers.

Scan QR code Menu on mobile phone

The robot prepares coffee The coffee is made

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 46
 MeiTuan’s food delivery robots
Meituan is a Chinese food purchasing and delivery platform. It launched an
autonomous food delivery system in 2018 and it is going to be rolled out gradually in
2019 starting in Beijing. Meituan has more than 300 million active users, 4 million
suppliers, and more than 20 million daily orders. Meituan is working with AI
companies such as Uditech and Segway-GX which have developed autonomous
delivery robots for the platform.

SMART FUNCTIONS
By using machine DELIVERY
vision, GPS, face EFFICIENCY
recognition and other
Delivery robots have
AI technology, delivery LABOUR COSTS
low weather influence
robots can In China’s tier-1 and 2
and can work
automatically avoid cities, the labor costs
uninterrupted for a
automobiles, of delivery people are
long time.
pedestrians and increasing. By using
other obstacles Thus, they usually delivery robots,
during. They also can finish every delivery Meituan can
self-lock and have an task with less time effectively reduce
automatic alarm to than human workers. costs and have a
protect the products desirable alternative.
they deliver.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 47
 Ford Motor Company’s smart vehicles
Chinese consumers are accustomed to high connectivity; they seek innovative in-car
services and are even ready to pay subscriptions for content. By working with Baidu,
Ford Motor Company has built a AI system named SYNC+ to connect cars with
smartphones.

SYNC+ system

Car drivers can control navigation, reservations (such as at a restaurant) and

entertainment systems by voice. Through the system, drivers also have services such
as vehicles maintenance reservation, roadside assistant, etc. After downloading the
mobile app, the system allows the driver to connect a smartphone to the car through
the app, also the car itself can connect to Baidu’s smart home devices such as smart
speakers.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 48
 Ordering by facial recognition at KFC
In China, KFC can predict customer choices based on data. Through the intelligent
software that scans the customers’ faces and recalls the customers’ previous orders,
KFC is able to offer a menu adapted to each customer. The facial recognition
technology was developed in partnership with Baidu.
Through facial recognition, KFC can harvest data from the Chinese consumers and
customize a menu for each diner based on preferences, local tastes and age.
For consumers, purchasing KFC’s food by scanning face saves their time in queues,
especially at peak times.
KFC saves the preferences of returning customers, and those preferences are listed
first when the familiar face is scanned. Then, the system can help them improve the
efficiency of ordering with the record.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 49
 iFLYTEK: The leading AI brand in China
The main business of iFLYTEK
iFLYTEK started its AI business in 1999, now it is one of the leading players in
China’s AI market.
The company targets both B2B and B2C market by developing natural language
processing, machine learning, AI speech, robotics and other AI technology &
products.

Education

Medical Equipment

Language Translation

Digital Services

Automobile

Office Equipment

Revenue in 2018
In 2018, the total annual revenue of iFLYTEK exceeded 7.9 billion RMB and
increased 45.41% compared with 2017. The sales revenue of B2C products has
exceeded 2.5 billion RMB in 2018, which occupied 31.8% of the total revenue.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 50
 iFLYTEK: Advanced AI speech and NPL technologies
iFLYTEK has the most advanced AI speech and NPL technologies in China, it
already occupied 44% of the AI voice & speech market. The technology has been
used in its B2C products, including recorders, translating machines, office
equipment, etc.

Smart Recorder

Smart Translator

Smart Office Equipment

Intelligent study
Equipment

During the double 11 shopping day in 2018, iFLYTEK’s translating machines

reached the highest sales (300,000 sold items) among all kinds of similar
products on Taobao/Tmall. During the 618 shopping day in 2019, iFLYTEK’s 6 AI
products achieved the best sales among similar products on both Tmall and JD.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 51
 iFLYTEK: Marketing strategy in China
Two important offline marketing strategies for the company

Offline AI experience stores

iFLYTEK built offline AI experience
stores in Shanghai and Shenzhen to
promote its products. The offline
experience stores are big
adjustments of its business, the
brand started to expend more
efforts on B2C market.

Smart cities
In order to open up new market and
increase its brand awareness,
iFLYTEK widely participated in the
construction of China’s smart cities.
By working with local government,
the company provided technical
support for public services.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 52
 DeepBlue Technology: The world-class AI developer in
China
As one of the leading AI developers in China, DeepBlue Technology is devoted to
developing AI applications, software/systems, hardware, robots, etc. The brand’s
core technologies are machine & computer vision, self-driving technology, biological
intelligence, etc.

Many AI products of DeepBlue Technology target B2B market, they are also
involved in China’s smart city development.

Self driving busses

Service Robots

AI vending machines

Smart security systems

Smart sweeping
machines

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 53
DeepBlue Technology: Domestic and international
strategy

Cooperating with real estate

developers
DeepBlue Technology built strategic
partnership with the Greenland
Group (a large real estate developer
in China) to participate in the
creation of smart communities,
smart transportation and smart
cities in China.

The Belt and Road Initiative

In order to expand overseas market,
DeepBlue Technology actively
worked with European countries,
such as Greece and Italy, through
The Belt and Road Initiative. The
company provides AI products to
support the public service and
smart cities in those countries.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 54
 Part Two
AI DEVELOPMENTS IN CHINESE
INDUSTRIES

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 55
AI TO COMBAT COVID-19

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 56
 Cutting edge technology to defeat COVID-19
A boost in big data and mass surveillance
The most visible use of new technology during the Coronavirus in China are thermal scanners
at train stations and airports. With thousands of passengers coming and going each day,
these detection gates can accurately identify the body temperature of dozens of passengers
simultaneously.

Facial recognition and infrared scanners

Megvii, a Chinese AI company specialized in Facial Recognition, announced on February 7th
that it had built a solution that “integrates body detection, face detection, and dual-sensing via
infrared cameras and visible light.” This new temperature detection system has been
supported by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology and was first deployed at a
subway station in Haidan District on February 4th. The system is capable of simultaneously
check the body temperatures of 15 people every second, even when masks or hats cover
people’s faces.

[Source: Megvii, “New software equipped with facial recognition and temperature checking
cameras”]

Megvii is known to have been blacklisted by the US administration in October 2019 for its
alleged human rights abuses. Facial recognition is indeed a subject of controversy, even in
China. The widespread use of this tool to better control populations during the epidemic could,
however, bury the privacy concerns of Chinese citizens. Megvii facial recognition devices are
now being installed in more and more subway, train, and airport stations. The use of facial
recognition by the authorities could, therefore, be enforced in the long term.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 57
Big data powered QR codes
The Alipay’s Health code is another example of the use of big data to implement epidemic
control, a newly automated form of social control that could persist long after the epidemic
subsides.

[Source: New York Times, “Color codes, one of the AI solutions to the Coronavirus in China”]

Launched at the end of February by Alibaba’s part-owned Ant Financial, the QR code is
available in more than 200 cities across China on the popular wallet app Alipay. The color
code, green, yellow, or red, indicates people’s health status. A green QR code allows free
access to public places such as subways, malls, or even supermarkets. The yellow QR code
forces you to a seven-day quarantine, while the red one requires a fourteen-day quarantine.

Government tracking of APPs feeds AI development during the Coronavirus

While QR code checkpoints are becoming standard across China, neither the company nor
officials have explained how the system decides whether someone is green or not. However,
it seems that the QR code bases its arbitrations on the history of the user’s location coupled to
information data on the Coronavirus. A yellow or red code may be therefore given to someone
who has visited cluster areas or had contacts with an infected person.

There is still no consensus regarding how to marry the right for privacy and the responsibility
of the government to stop a deadly epidemic. A huge amount of data has been made
available by the authorities’ consistent tracking of so many apps, which feeds Artificial
Intelligence in China during the Coronavirus.

New healthcare technology to fight against the Coronavirus

In the first weeks of the outbreak, much has been written in scientific journals across the
globe after Baidu has developed an algorithm that only takes 27 seconds to solve the RNA
secondary structure of the Covid-19 which is 120 times faster than the top classic algorithms.
On January 30, the tech giant that operates the country’s largest search engine opened up its
prediction algorithm, ‘LinearFold‘ to global genetic agencies and scientific research institutes,

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 58
for free. This scientific feat took place in the early stages of the outbreak in China, followed
later by other AI solution to the Coronavirus in China. These advances in healthcare
technology could set a new precedent for pandemic prevention in the future.

AI to diagnose Coronavirus
Deep learning, the same technology that makes possible facial recognition or autonomous
driving, is also making it possible to diagnose Coronavirus faster than doctors. We have seen
giant Chinese tech companies relying on machine learning to develop diagnosis chatbots on
their platforms. Based on thousands of real diagnoses, as well as questions asked to the user
through the chatbot, Baidu or Tencent algorithms can identify if the user’s symptoms match
those of the Coronavirus.

Smart CT Scans
New technology from the Coronavirus in China also include capabilities to read computed
tomography (CT) scans. CT scans of the chest are indeed a critical method in diagnosing the
Coronavirus. Alibaba and health insurance company Ping’An has developed smart image
reading systems that can deliver results in about 15 seconds with an accuracy rate above 90%.
Such tech advancements from the Coronavirus in China significantly speed up the process, as
radiologists can spend up to 15 minutes reading the CT images of a patient suspected of
contracting COVID-19.

[Source: Infervision, “Tech advancements from the Coronavirus in China to help reading CT
scans”]

Infervision is another Chinese Artificial Intelligence startup that has developed CT Pneumonia
reading software to detect lesions from possible pneumonia caused by the Coronavirus.
Before the outbreak, the company was specialized in detecting lung cancers through CT chest
scan reading. Bringing its AI solutions to the Coronavirus in China, the whole diagnosis

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 59
analysis process can take as little as 10 seconds. As of March 5, the Infervision’s system has
been deployed in 34 hospitals across China and reviewed over 32,000 cases.26

Deployment of disinfection robots

In hospitals often overwhelmed by new cases, addressing hospital-acquired infections
remains a considerable challenge for medical workers. Given the contagiousness of the
Coronavirus and the density of patients in Chinese hospitals during the outbreak, the
deployment of unmanned disinfection systems is a necessity.

UVD robots is a Danish company which supplies Chinese hospitals with disinfection robots
during the Coronavirus. The robots consist of a base equipped with sensors, surmounted by
powerful UV lamps. This kind of disinfection technology using UV lamps has been around for
a while – used in the disinfection of drinking water, for example – before being deployed in
hospitals. This technology consists of pointing a high-intensity UV light – which can be
harmful to human skin or eyes – on contaminated areas during a few minutes.

The robot scans its environment using its lidars, creating a digital map that medical workers
can annotate, indicating the areas to be disinfected. The robot can then navigate on its own,
relying on simultaneous localization and mapping (SLM), without any human interaction. The
disinfection of a room can takes up to ten minutes. For safety, the robot shuts UV lights off
when detecting a person through its sensors.

[Source: Spectrum, “Danish UVD robots to push AI innovation in China during the Coronavirus
epidemic” ]

During the epidemic, the Danish company shipped robots to China by plane every week to
cope with the demand. On February 19, UVD Robots announced that it would equip all the
Chinese provinces, deploying its robots in more than 2,000 hospitals. Given the globalization

26
BioWorld.com, China uses AI in medical imaging to speed up COVID-19 diagnosis

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 60
of the epidemic, UVD robots will be deployed at other medical facilities in the United States. In
the near future, this kind of technology could also extend to schools, cruise ships, or other
usually crowded spaces that offer like-hospital structured places.

Spreading information faster than the Coronavirus

In times of pandemic, giving accurate and precise information to the public is the first step to
ensure broad awareness and implement prevention to strengthen epidemic control. But with
people getting scared, it is easier for fake news and hoaxes to spread better than a valuable
accurate piece of information. Moreover, with a situation evolving really fast, something that
was still true a few hours ago may now be out of date. To ensure proper transmission of
information to populations, AI and Big Data in China during the Coronavirus intensified their
effort towards new ways of informing Chinese people.

Online information centers rely on Chinese AI and big data during the Coronavirus
As previously noted, AI solutions to the Coronavirus in China include the recourse to machine
learning processing bots. On February 4, in the early weeks of the epidemic, JD launched a
‘smart epidemic assistant’ integrated into the WeChat account of Wuhan’s Mayor to
accurately answer Wuhan’s dwellers’ inquiries. Its functions are further detailed in this article.
More generally, the giant Chinese companies such as Baidu, Tencent, Alibaba, JD, Meituan all
released a big data-powered information center on their platforms. These powerful tools
inform people about the latest news on the Coronavirus, displaying statistics, transmission
rates, and other virus-related queries. It also provides information about the nearest hospitals,
self-testing features, and online medical services.

Baidu AI technology in China

These tech advancements quickly became
widespread in China, with 34% of the
Chinese said they tried online medical
consultancy for the very first time thanks to
the epidemic. The image on the right is a
screen shot of Baidu App’s COVID-19
Information Center. As of March 17, the
most consulted online health center, which
is Baidu’s, has been seen close to 5 billion
times.

The Baidu application provides real-time

information on the outbreak of
COVID-19, including current confirmed
cases, suspected cases, and cases in
critical condition, cured cases and
deaths for each city. The map feature on
the APP also shows precisely where in
each city there are active cases.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 61
Big data-powered maps
Among AI solutions to the Coronavirus in China, Baidu, the tech giant that operates China’s
largest search engine, launched several maps to help people find their way through the
epidemic. An ‘epidemic map’ displayed the number of contaminated and suspected cases in
a certain area, while a ‘migration trend map’ was helping people check the migration status of
Mainland cities during the Spring festival. The two apps were making it easier for people to
manage their travel plans to go back home at the end of the holidays, as well as avoid risky
places.

Last to date is the ‘resumption work map’, which shows all the shops open around. Since the
quarantine that forced millions of stores to close, it’s indeed hard to tell what’s open from
what’s not. This new feature is available in more than 300 cities and allows the user to select
the type of spot they want to search for, from supermarkets to parks and hotels. Those
identified as open appear on the user’s screen.

The adoption of AI and big data in china during the

Coronavirus at all levels of society
From disinfection robots to color codes, China is perhaps the best example of how
technology has moved from being nice-to-have to essential to address the disease. The
examples listed above are some of many highlighting the widespread use of AI and Big Data
in China during the Coronavirus. Tech advancements from the Coronavirus in China are now
everywhere for everyone, boosting innovation in China.

Big data platforms to help the Chinese government with decision making
During the epidemic, more than 20 province’s government worked with technology
companies to build AI solutions to the Coronavirus in China to report epidemic related data
and feedback, providing invaluable advice for public crisis management of priority populations.
Deeper cooperation between the two parts to fight the Coronavirus supported tech
advancements from the Coronavirus in China.

From March 2020, two months after the outbreak, Chinese authorities are now focusing their
efforts to find a balance between epidemic prevention and control, and sustainable economic
and social development recovery. Proof that AI and big data during the Coronavirus in China
has been of invaluable help at the highest political levels in managing the crisis, Chinese
President Xi Jinping said on March 5 that unprecedented expenditure on “new infrastructures
such as 5G networks and data centers” will top the Chinese response to the economic impact
of the Coronavirus. The comment confirmed that investments would be made to support new
technology and innovation in China. Stocks related to AI, big data storage center, and 5G,
surged in response.

The real power of technology

Ordinarily, only a few people try new tech products and help to push the boundaries of
technology further. These people are called early adopters, geeks, or innovators. The
Coronavirus situation forced the majority, the later adopters, to catch up fast. As it created an
unprecedented launchpad for AI, big data, and robotics developments in China, consumers,

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 62
producers, marketers, and decision-makers will come better to understand their potential in all
walks of life.

If no one knows when the pandemic will end, it looks certain that new technology from the
Coronavirus in China will last. These AI solutions to the Coronavirus in China, but not only,
were born out of a necessity to cope with an unprecedented situation. With the virus
expanding worldwide, tech advancements from the Coronavirus in China will be of great help
to other countries globally. By its essence, technology has no borders or nationality. It can
easily scale up to solve threats elsewhere.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 63
 AI IN HEALTHCARE

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 64
 AI healthcare trends and applications in China
The use of AI in China’s healthcare industry
In the early 1980s, China began to develop research in the field of artificial
intelligence in healthcare. Although it first lagged behind developed countries, it has
caught up quickly. Since the beginning of the 21st century, AI in China’s healthcare
industry has made significant progress in more segments of healthcare. With a
rapidly aging population, the increase in the chronic diseases, the shortage of quality
medical resources, and the rising public medical expenses, the application of AI in
the healthcare sector in China has brought new development direction and
motivation to the medical field. Currently, investment in AI in the healthcare industry
in China is ranked first in the world, and the quality of research is among the top three.
The Asia Pacific healthcare AI market will witness considerable growth of about 44.4%
by 2025 thanks to the rising investments in R&D, which are necessary for
development of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors.27 It is estimated that
the market size of China’s healthcare big data industry will exceed 80 billion Yuan by
2020.28
This section focuses on the five main applications of AI in the healthcare industry in
China, namely medical imaging, auxiliary diagnosis, drug development, health
management, and disease prediction.

Ask an expert

There is a shortage of human professional elderly care

providers in China, so we cannot just count on human
providing services. There will be a bigger gap in the
future when every year there are millions of seniors in
China coming in healthcare. Now doing a Yin and Yang
with MedTech, insure tech, and biotech, all in one,
connected in an AI-based preventative platform, should
help us align with the needs of the seniors in China.”

Charles Bark, CEO and Founder of HiNounou

The development of healthcare AI companies in China

There are four pain points in Chinese medical field: insufficient medical resources, a
long training period for doctors, high medical costs, and a high doctor misdiagnosis
rate. AI may be leveraged to solve some of these problems.

27
Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Market Size by Application, Sumant Ugalmugale
28
2018 AI in Healthcare Industry Development Trends Analysis, Qianzhan.com

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 65
AI in Medical imaging
Medical imaging is one of the most common AI applications in China’s healthcare
industry
Medical imaging refers to the specific application of AI technology in the diagnosis of
medical imaging. AI may find multiple applications, from image acquisition and
processing to aided reporting, follow-up planning, data storage, etc. AI is expected to
massively affect radiology. Currently, it is the second-largest market segment of
artificial intelligence medical applications in China and was predicted to grow at a
growth rate of more than 40% and reach a scale of 2.5 billion US dollars in 202430. In
addition, AI medical imaging in China is considered by industry insiders to be the first
market to commercialize in AI in the healthcare industry in China. Due to the huge
gap in the number of professional doctors in medical imaging in China, the rate of
misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis is high, and the speed of manual diagnosis is
limited. AI in medical imaging can help to process image data in the following
aspects: reading mode, time, accuracy, objectivity, memory, modeling conditions,
information utilization, and repeatability, the difficulty of quantitative analysis,
experience transmission, and cost. Patients, physicians, and hospitals will all benefit
from the use of AI in medical imaging in China. AI in medical imaging has become
the most commonly used depends on several developments of AI in the healthcare
industry in China. First, the medical imaging data is huge; more than 90% of the
medical data comes from medical images. The picture data structure is simple,
which is convenient for machine learning. It is estimated that the volume of medical
data will reach 40 trillion RMB by 2020, 30 times that of 2010. Another developing
advantage of AI in China’s healthcare industry is about the fast iteration of big data,
and intelligent image diagnosis algorithm is relatively mature. In addition, national
policies are supportive of the medical imaging industry. The government has issued
several policies to increase support for domestic medical imaging since 2013. In
2017, the total amount of financing in this field exceeded 1.7 billion RMB.
The current business model used in medical imaging in China
At present, AI in medical imaging products is mostly used for disease screening,
especially cancer and chronic diseases. Most of the roughly formed AI medical
imaging products in China are in the trial stage of hospitals, and the healthcare AI
companies in China have not realized profits yet. The three business models used in
medical imaging in China include cross-border Internet technology giants, device
companies, and technology companies. Cross-border Internet technology giants have
the capital and technology to support the development of projects with their own
strong financial resources. Device companies rely on medical imaging equipment or
systems to gain access to medical facilities. Technology companies focus on the
application layer, with their algorithms that provide final solutions based on industry
data.
In 2017, Tencent launched the AIMIS (觅影), an AI-powered diagnostic medical
imaging service. This health tech in China currently has accuracy rates of over 90%
for preliminary diagnoses of esophageal cancer, 95% for lung sarcoidosis, and 97%

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 66
for diabetic retinopathy. According to Tencent, AIMIS has reached cooperation with
more than 100 hospitals (3AAA Hospitals) in China to promote the research and
application of AI in the healthcare industry in China.

AI in Diagnosis
Current AI applications in assisting diagnosis in China
In addition to medical imaging, AI in diagnosis in China also provides Electronic
medical record (EMR), medical robot, virtual assistant and other services.
Electronic medical record
The traditional electronic medical record (EMR) system of healthtech in China does
not meet the needs of specialization of disease data, structuring of medical case
data, and cannot provide clinical decision support based on medical records.
Healthtech in China can use natural language processing technology to standardize
and structure medical records and use speech recognition and speech synthesis to
process large amounts of text entry.
Medical robots
China’s medical robots mainly include surgical assistants (orthopedic and
neurosurgical robots), gastrointestinal examination and diagnostic robots (capsule
endoscopes, gastroscope diagnostic treatment, and auxiliary robots, etc.),
rehabilitation robots and other robots for treatment (intelligent intravenous infusion
drug configuration robot). The Boston data shows that the compound annual growth
rate of the global medical robot market will be about 15.4% in the next five years.
Recently, medical robots as a driver of the healthtech in China are gradually breaking
the monopoly of imported robots. Domestic surgical robotics companies conduct
business primarily by selling robots to hospitals and providing long-term
maintenance services. Others provide parliamentarians with a model of the overall
engineering solution for the surgical center.
Virtual assistant
Virtual assistants can provide real-time support to doctors. For example, patients
need to know the necessary information about the disease when they go offline for
consultation, and these highly overlapping contents take up a lot of doctors’ time. AI
technology in China’s healthcare industry can help doctors respond to inquiries
based on a large amount of historical information, saving time and energy. Since
most of the AI-assisted diagnosis products are software and hardware integrated
solutions, healthcare AI companies in China cooperate with hospitals and
continuously train models and optimize algorithms through hospital desensitization
medical records data. Hospitals can use the products mostly free. In the future, when
the product becomes more mature, AI in diagnosis in China may be inclined to adopt
the service charge business model.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 67
Airdoc -Diagnosis in the blink of an eye
Airdoc is a fast-growing healthcare company specializing in AI in diagnosis in China.
It has leveraged an AI-driven system that can seek out signs of many chronic
illnesses by images of the retina at the back of each eyeball. By conduct screening in
and outside medical institutions, Airdoc fundus disease recognition has become the
doctor’s assistant for chronic diseases. This healthtech in China has been highly
recognized by the international community. In 2017, Airdoc boarded the ‘Peace Ark
hospital ship’ and visited six African countries on behalf of China, providing AI
medical services to the crew and people living in these countries.

AI in Medicine discovery
Artificial Intelligence improves China’s drug research and development field,
Medicine discovery is a notoriously expensive process, and it has four main stages.
AI has already been successfully applied in all stages in drug development: identify
target molecules, discover effective drugs, speed up clinical trials, and find
biomarkers for diagnostics. At present, medicine discovery in China has several
problems to be solved. Some of which can serve as the directions of AI development.
Specifically, medicine discovery in China always takes a long-time duration, high
costs, high-risk, and low rate of return. It is developing a new drug that costs $2.6
billion and takes 10 years to develop 29 . However, the union between artificial
intelligence and drug discovery can greatly reduce time and development costs.
Artificial intelligence can quickly select the right compound through a large amount
of data to generate hypothetical drugs, which shows the potential for more efficient
development of medicine. Current medicine discovery in China is still focused on
generic drugs and improved drugs, while innovative drugs dominate foreign R&D.
Therefore, in the field of drug R&D, international research goes further than in China.
The business model of medicine discovery in China
There are three major categories of healthcare companies specializing in AI in drug
research and development: AI technology companies, drug research institutions, and
large pharmaceutical companies. AI technology companies in China do not produce
drugs but provide technical services to large pharmaceutical companies or medical
institutions. As a service platform, drug research institutions offer support to national
pharmaceutical enterprises in preparation, metabolism, safety evaluation, etc. The
trend of large pharmaceutical companies is to seek cooperation or investment
opportunities with AI technology companies by using their massive data. Accutar
Biotechnology is a Chinese pharmaceutical AI company specializing in medicine
discovery, which raised $15 million in funding in 2017. Accutar Biotechnology
computational projections of 3D operators and deep chemical structure networks
have greatly improved pharmaceutical efficiency and success rates in China.

29
How artificial intelligence is changing drug discovery, Nic Fleming, nature.com

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 68
AI in Health management
Big data as a breakthrough to achieve accurate health management
There are two main issues in health management in China. The first is smart
wearable devices in traditional health management fail to solve data correlation.
Wearable devices only focus on data extraction, collection, and trend analysis, but fail
to provide users with health portraits and improve their health. Secondly, staff in the
health management field are not always professionally trained; most having a
non-medical background. Massive big data is a prerequisite for the development of
health management in China. From the technology-driven perspective, AI can make
personalized health management possible through efficient calculation and accurate
decision analysis. Even in the future, nutritionists and sports experts can generate
accurate health intervention plans based on the AI system of healthtech in China.
Current state of health management in China
China’s current amount of smart wearable device hardware is not high enough, and
the accumulation of disease-related data is insufficient. Therefore, the main
application of AI in health management in China is chronic disease management
(such as diabetes and hypertension), maternal management, mental health
management, and population health management. Health management operation is
mainly based on physical examination, including health assessment and promotion,
but follow-up health management services have not been fully popularized. In
addition to employee health management services, some enterprises cooperate with
insurance companies. In the future, the cultivation of individual users' payment habits
is expected.

AI in Disease prediction
Genetic testing as an inalienable development approach
AI technology in disease prediction in China are mainly used in gene sequencing and
detection to forecast disease occurrence. Gene testing is the cornerstone of
medicine. Current business models of genetic testing services of AI in China’s
healthcare industry can be divided into two types: a hospital delivery model and
third-party testing model. Compared with the hospital delivery model, the third-party
testing model requires a higher threshold of qualifications, personnel, and funds of
medical inspection institutions.
Industry pain points and emerging benefits of disease prediction
Genetic testing is not easy to implement. Firstly, the amount of genome data is huge,
and manual experiments are time-consuming and labor-intensive. Traditional gene
sequencing costs too much. In addition, the general algorithm of gene sequencing
diagnosis in different stages is ineffective and has low accuracy. The advantage of
disease prediction in China is the increasing market size and the development of the
supercomputer. According to the trend of disease incidence, cancer incidence, and
death rate have been continuously increasing in China in recent years. Data show
that from 2007 to 2016, China's revenue from gene sequencing increased by 62.2

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 69
percent annually, reaching 5.06 billion RMB in 2016. It is estimated that by 2022,
China's gene sequencing market is expected to reach about 30 billion RMB 30.
Additionally, if supercomputer’s powerful data processing ability is applied to gene
sequencing, it will greatly shorten the time of gene testing and improve efficiency.
Policies regarding AI in the healthcare sector in China
At the national level, AI manufacturing was first mentioned in the “Made in China
2025” issued by the State Council in 2015. In the past three years, it has released big
data about national health and Internet medical care. Such policies have promoted
the rapid development of big medical data and laid a good foundation for the
development of AI in the healthcare sector in China. At the provincial level, as of 2018,
19 provinces in China have released AI strategies, among them, Beijing, Shanghai,
Hangzhou, and Shenzhen. Other cities are in the early stages of AI development.

How to collaborate with leading healthcare AI companies in

China
There are several possible ways to collaborate with leading AI companies in China.
Firstly, foreign research institutes can cooperate with healthcare AI companies in
China. InferVISION (推想科技) is a Chinese AI company, which provides services in
the ‘AI as a Service’ mode and launches the medical imaging deep learning center to
provide medical researchers with deep learning capabilities. While cooperating with
more than 300 domestic hospitals, it also focuses on the overseas market
expansion.
Another type of collaboration is between two tech companies — for example,,
iMedical Cloud from Tencent and Mediway. The iMedical Cloud builds an industrial
internet ecological IT platform featuring cloud, security, sharing, and collaboration.
Therefore, the key is to find healthcare AI companies in China that can complement
each other’s resources and integrate companies’ technology. In addition, many
Chinese healthcare AI companies started as software systems and found a way to
generate revenue by combining with medical devices manufacturers. In terms of
medical discovery, cooperation between AI technology companies, pharmaceutical
enterprises, and medical research institutions can be mutually beneficial. Foreign
pharmaceutical enterprises can use the data from domestic AI technology
companies to conduct drug research and development more efficiently.

30
2019 China AI in Medicine White Paper, Shanghai Jiaotong University

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 70
 AI IN BEAUTY

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 71
 AR try-ons to unmanned vending machines, the future
of beauty is here

The development of artificial intelligence(AI) in China is very rapid; artificial

intelligence can be found in every corner of the consumer journey. From mobile
phone payment to face recognition of unmanned shops, AI creates a more
convenient and efficient service experience. AI in China’s Beauty and Cosmetics
industry is making changes at the level of customers acquisition, products, and even
management.

Digital transformation of the beauty industry in China:

Customer's experience enhanced by AI
As the beauty industry is always agile to fashion trends, it naturally does not miss the
AI technological application. Customer experience is enhanced by the digital
transformation of the beauty industry in China, such as automated retail, virtual
makeup try-on & removal, and voice-guided mirror.

Automated retail in Beauty and Cosmetics in China

At the moment, different industries are exploring automated business models,
ranging from self-service convenience stores to more innovative product lines such
as magazines kiosks and umbrellas rental stands. AI in cosmetic retail industries
recorded one of the most successful expansions in the automated retail industry.
Mariedalgar is a domestic cosmetic brand that launched its self-service vending
machine at Hangzhou West Lake Yintai. Upon scanning the machine’s QR code,
customers enter the product’s page; they can follow the Tmall online store, and
browse and purchase a mini lipstick for only 5 RMB. The whole shopping experience
can take less than 1 minute and 30 seconds. The main purpose of the event is to get
much more exposure to the brand. Mariedalgar’s Hangzhou vending machine sold a
total of 1,550 lipsticks in three days, which is equivalent to a week's regular in-store
sales. Mariedalgar will also cooperate with Tmall to complete docking of its online
and offline membership system, analyze customer insights, and membership
programs.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 72
Makeup Virtual Try-On and Removal supported by AR
The virtual makeup technology uses 3D dynamic makeup, which is the most widely
used AI technology in the beauty industry in China. Consumers can try lipstick, eye
shadow, blush, eyebrows pencil, false eyelashes, and other products in less than a
second. Customers have the option to buy the products after digitally trying them on,
which reduces costs and expands beauty retail terminals. The purchase of products
brings a convenient experience. At the same time, brands can also use AI technology
in the beauty industry to collect consumer’s information, make personalized product
recommendations and development based on big data. In April 2017, Watsons also
launched "Style Me, Color me," which is one of the applications of AI in beauty. It can
automatically identify the customer's face when they sit in front of the in-store mirror
tablet, providing make-up suggestions virtually applied to the customers’ face on the
mirror. In addition to the pre-shopping experience service, Watsons has also
implemented AI technology to enhance the consumers' experience. With the newly
established self-service checkout counter, customers can pay online with their
mobile phone and can choose between pick up from the store or home delivery
within 4 hours.

[Source: Mariedalgar “Lipstick vending machine”]

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 73
Voice-guided mirror, convenient customer shopping guide
“Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” This speaking mirror not
only exists in Disney’s fairy tale "Snow White" anymore, now with the "Tmall Elf
Queen," everyone can have their own "magical mirror. At the Tmall Gold Makeup
Award in 2019, a voice-guided mirror attracted much attention. This voice guided
mirror can chat with people, tell stories, play music, and control electro-domestics at
home.This is an 8-inch diameter mirror surrounded by LED lamp beads which can
provide the best light source during makeup. It could also simulate the illumination
under different weather conditions, to make sure that the makeup is suitable for
indoor as well as outdoor circumstances. This smart beauty mirror was developed by
the Alibaba Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, and according to the on-site staff, in
addition to the professional makeup mirror and lighting effects, the mirror also
provides professional skin testing, sunscreen index inquiry, beauty reminders, and
beauty knowledge.

[Source: Daxue Consulting “Snow White Mirror & Tmall Elf Queen Mirroir”]

Applications of AI in marketing and logistics of beauty

products
Personalized Recommendations
Every month, about 6 million photos are produced by the users of Meitu Matrix App.
Meitu's big data resource provides a powerful foundation for Meitu AI. Based on big
data and cooperation with medical research, Meitu recommends cosmetics for users
personalized to their own needs. Through skin tests, big data analysis, and
personalized recommendation, Meitu builds a personalized service for user's deep
experience.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 74
Precision management of logistics
In terms of after-sales, Meitu's artificial intelligence optimizes operational logistics
and management. By using AI in cosmetics retail, Meitu investigates the trends to
make sales forecasts, selects a suitable address of warehouse for storage, and the
best delivery route planning, to provide the best delivery experience to customers.

A union of cosmetic brands and AI companies in China

AI is increasingly integrated into the beauty and cosmetics industry in China. At the
basis layer, by analyzing big data, the beauty industry in China is thereby showing a
better understanding of consumer demands, and a greater ability to serve their needs.
Represented by Alibaba group and other companies, AI is used in the beauty industry
to provide beauty data. At the technical level, the adoption of AI in the beauty industry
covers all of the technology’s employment areas. For example, the voice-guided
mirror requires both speech recognition applications as well as mapping/semantic
analysis. AR is widely used in the beauty and cosmetic industry, further examples are
virtual makeup, try-on and removal. AI technology in the beauty industry also needs
the support of image recognition. Companies like Unisound, Sensetime, and Alibaba
group are working on this. At the application level, the virtual assistant could better
satisfy customers’ needs with quick replies to customer service inquiries. Future
applications of AI in the beauty industry could extend to logistics, marketing, and
personalized promotion.
In conclusion, China's beauty industry has benefited from the digital transformation
brought about by AI technology. It has enhanced customers' experience by applying
enhanced marketing, logistics, personalized promotion, big data, and other artificial
intelligence areas. This is a further demonstration of how AI uses in the beauty
industry are becoming more and more important for both the businesses and the
customers.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 75
 AI IN NEW RETAIL

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 76
 Not just unmanned stores
The Chinese retail industry is reaping the benefits of China’s economic growth. The
offline retail industry is now moving towards “New Retail” to find a new room to grow.
New Retail is the merging of online and offline retail, eliminating the data boundaries
between different channels. By integrating AI in new retail, retailers can find a better
way to improve business efficiency, as well as provide a holistic shopping experience
for customers.

Integrating AI technology in Chinese retail

As the first emerging store-model, which was proposed after the new retail concept,
China’s unmanned stores started sprouting up in China starting in 2017. The market
size of unmanned stores is expected to exceed 3.3 billion in 202031. At this stage, AI
technology in unmanned retail is mainly divided into three categories: bar codes,
radio frequency identification devices (RFID), and machine vision. The following are
the major technology of leading enterprises among unmanned stores in China:

QR codes
The QR code, in other words, the two-dimensional code provides information storage
on both horizontal and vertical axes. It enables consumers to pay for goods by
scanning codes on the products. It is fundamental to unmanned stores with the
advantages of lower costs and quick payment. Smaller unmanned stores such as
Bianlifeng and Xiao E micro shop use this technique.

[Source: Daxue Consulting, “the QR code in China’s unmanned stores”]

31
2017 China’s Unmanned Retail Industry Research Report, iResearch

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 77
Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID)
RFID is relatively mature in using electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and
track items’ tags. It requires sellers to stick RFID tags on each product to improve the
efficiency of identifying goods.

[Source: Bingo Box, “AI in new retail in China: RFID in unmanned stores”]

Machine Vision
Machine vision uses cameras and computers for facial and behavior recognition.
Presently in China’s unmanned stores, machine vision performs as a store clerk to
recognize and trace customer behavior. However, unmanned stores in China have
started experiencing a series of closures, bottlenecking further development. One
major obstacle is the difficulty of selling fresh groceries in the store without adding
staff. Customers expect to buy processed food when in convenience stores. Some
unmanned stores that only carry long-lasting products like drinks and snacks would
not attract consumers but only regarded as a big vending machine.

By analyzing Tao Café and Bingo Box, the most recognized unmanned stores in
China, it can be seen that they can significantly enhance the convenience of shopping.
Customers can enter Tao Café and Bingo Box by scanning QR codes on their apps.
The stores are equipped with biometric systems and machine vision technology used
for facial and speech recognition. With further upgrades of AI technology in Chinese
retail, Tao Café can track target consumers, analyze what the consumer took as they
leave the store, and offer speedy payment procedures, effectively removing the need
of a check-out system.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 78
From unmanned stores to smart stores, AI applications have
changed China’s retail landscape
AI is being applied in new ways across the entire new retail product and service cycle,
from assembly to customer service interactions. Integrating AI in new retail is helping
retailers discover actionable insights with different AI applications. For the
perception of the retail process, AI applications in China’s new retail can be broken
down into the categories listed below:

Customer traffic recognition

The traditional Chinese retail industry lacks effective means to understand
consumers’ needs and purchasing habits. Customer traffic recognition is one of the
solutions of using AI technology in Chinese retail. Tech companies support AI
technology in Chinese retail Hikvision and Winner Technology. Customer traffic
recognition can identify the flow density of consumers in the store and draw a heat
map through real-time monitoring, thereby calculating the most popular goods and
services to understand consumer behaviour. Through the results, operation settings
of the store can be adjusted timely. In addition, it allows retailers to keep the optimal
configuration and realize the balance between people, goods, and places.

[Source: CICC and Hikvision, “AI in China’s new retail: customer traffic recognition in
smart stores”]

Digitalizing offline retail

Relying on AI robots and other AI technology in Chinese retail empowers offline
stores to adopt digital management. Traditional large-scale retail chains need to
manage hundreds of stores across the country. By deploying Dahua’s smart retail
solution, offline-retailing stores can implement precision marketing, find the stores
with poor sales, and even identify theft through reviewing business data. Also, the
remote patrol function can be used to directly view the status of each store, in terms
of its operation, display, health, service, and compare the high and low performing

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 79
stores in real-time. The face recognition among AI technology in Chinese retail
accurately counts the consumer traffic data and combines the sales data to analyze
effectiveness and customer preference.

Supply chain and logistics optimization

Increased use of AI technology in Chinese retail serves to improve overall efficiency
and resolve the limitations of traditional retailers, such as inefficient planning,
labor-intensive warehousing, and slow response to market changes. Under the
complex network and increasingly diversified consumer demands, retailers will need
an automated supply chain. AI technology in Chinese supply chain include deep
learning, machine learning, and sensor equipment. Product tags like popularity,
bestseller, and high margin will be categorized without human intervention. When a
product is contributing relatively less compared with its resource, time, revenue,
margin, it would be automatically replaced. For a specific example, Cainiao Network
has created a logistics information platform that links delivery vendors, warehouses,
and merchants. The platform is designed to digitize the logistics management with
AI applications in China’s new retail. In addition, building on their work in smart
logistic robots, Cainiao has developed an agile, automated warehouse solution. The
self-charging AGV robots in the warehouse are expected to reduce manual staff labor
by an average 50,000 steps per day and improve efficiency by 30%. The promotion of
AI in new retail in China is to further accelerate the process of new retail
transformation in terms of data, networking, and intelligence. It changes the retailing
landscape by creating efficient and accurate user portraits, perfect merchandise, and
service, as well as the accurate decisions based on AI-led data.

Using AI to center on customers’ needs

China is the first country undergoing a “new retail” reform to focus on customers’
needs. Compared to the traditional retail industry, the collection of customers’
information is more time-efficient. At the same time, with updated AI applications in
China’s new retail, retailers are considering how to use customer data to analyze
customers’ consumption behavior in the store or online in a timely manner. Therefore,
China’s new retail stores have also launched AI customer support.

Ask an expert

“Chinese consumers are extremely sophisticated and

savvy when it comes to digital and assessing brands
and products. So, it’s about understanding them,
understanding what they want, and understanding
what are the best channels to engage with them.”

Max Peiro, CEO of Re-Hub

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 80
Smart product search and recommendations

By integrating AI in new retail, real-time data in many e-commerce channels is used

to predict what consumers want. It is based on previous purchases, online browsing,
comments, to achieve precise marketing. Take Taobao’s AI design system Luban as
an example:

Luban system first combines big data and deep learning to decompose the original
images, train and learn different designer styles; secondly, according to users’
preferences and other data matching to generate digital ads, the system selects the
best ads after scoring. The system processes over 8,000 posters per second as
demonstrated in the below picture:

[Source: CICC, AI application in China’s new retail: the processing flow of Luban’s
poster design]

Smart customer service (Chatbot)

With the development of the Chinese retail industry, the needs of the online customer
service are continuously growing. Because the traditional type of customer service
has many weaknesses such as high labor cost, speech recognition is used as one of
AI technology in Chinese retail to solve problems effectively based on big data and
deep learning. It is expected to gradually replace traditional manual customer service
and improve the quality of service.

Ali Xiaomi (阿里小蜜) is an AI-enabled personal shopping assistant and customer

service representative used on Alibaba’s e-commerce websites. With the use of
natural language understanding, Ali Xiaomi stands out from other chatbot services
available in China. It is able to understand customers’ messages, including texts,
voice, and even photos. It will return a list of recommendations that users can

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 81
choose by brand, color, and other characteristics. Ali Xiaomi can answer some
frequently asked questions and inquiries from consumers.

[Source: Alixiaomi.com, “AI in China’s new retail: smart customer service”]

Pervasive personalization

Merchants selling on mainstream e-commerce platforms presently can personalize

their virtual storefronts, offer real-time and tailored product recommendations based
on purchase histories, demographics, and geographic locations. It is also an effective
approach to center on customers and improves efficiency by integrating AI
applications in China’s new retail.

Large new retail platforms using AI

Currently, AI is widely implemented in hypermarkets, supermarkets, and convenience
stores. Apart from such retailing stores, other internet companies like Tencent are
also the leading buyer and contributor to developing related AI applications. Thanks
to the promotion of retail giants, such as Alibaba, JD.com, Suning, etc., AI
applications in China’s new retail are on the rise will continue to expand over the next
two years.

Hypermarkets: Alibaba & Hema, JD & 7Fresh

Hema and 7Fresh are both highly integrated their online and offline markets. They
provide services that connect supermarkets and restaurants. Users add products to
their digital cart by scanning QR codes. JD also launched the unmanned shopping
cart service, which supported by image recognition. In addition, combined with the no
cash payment method, Ali and JD can obtain accurate data of users, in turn, to
achieve precise marketing.

The availability of electronic price tags that can be recognized by machine learning
applications like RFID, is the key to the efficient operation of hypermarkets. Hence,
electronic price tags are a key AI technology in Chinese retail. The use of electronic
price tags ensures the same price online and offline sales. Furthermore, with the

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 82
mobile handheld identification devices, staff use codes to identify which goods to
pick from shelves, then package the products and transport them to the express
delivery department. The efficient data transmission chain is also important to
support for their delivery commitment, as well as to helping expand the customer
base.

AI + big data: Tencent & You Mall smart retail system (优 mall)

Tencent’s Mall Smart retail system was released in 2017. It is equipped with
Tencent’s AI technology called Youtu, and Tencent’s Cloud Data. The system
includes VIP-to-store reminders, store compasses, line analysis, customer group
management, facial recognition payment, etc., covering the various sections of the
store. Youtu’s facial recognition technology is applied to customer identification;
shelves display adjustment, shopping guide, and patrol shop functions. Through the
moving trajectory in the mall, shopping paths, and correlations between categories
and commodities can be recorded and analyzed to optimize the arrangement of
shopping malls. The following chart shows the central values of the AI system in
digitalizing customers’ information analysis:

In short, AI in China’s new retail indeed has great potential for continuous
development. Whether in the hypermarket, the smart retail system, or any new forms
that may emerge in the future, the fusion of algorithm and experience is an important
factor for retailers to consider when deploying AI. That means it is necessary to
combine advanced algorithms of AI technology in Chinese retail with customers
sentiments from the previous retail experience.

[Source: Tencent Research Institute, “Main values of Tencent’s You Mall AI+ smart
retail system”]

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 83
What AI technology in China can bring to your retail shop?
Currently, the main players of AI in new retail in China can be sorted into three
categories: cloud services, large retailers with AI uses, and AI companies. Based on
their own database, large internet companies can develop or integrate AI technology
internally. The represented companies are Alibaba, Tencent, and Baidu. AI companies
in China can deliver customized technology that addresses individual store needs.
Apart from AI technology, relatively small retailers can also learn from large and
mature retailers to find AI solutions.

The structure of leading players of AI in new retail in China:

[Source: iResearch, “the structure of main players of AI in new retail in China”]

Chinese AI companies in retail are mainly focusing on the technology layer. For
example, Malong Technologies provides computer vision service. Some other
companies like Megvii, Deepglint, Extreme Vision are also offering AI applications to
cover the overall retail chain in China. Therefore, for the foreign retailers who want to
launch or further develop their business and integrate AI in China, cooperating with
AI technology companies is considered as an essential and practical approach to
target more Chinese consumers. Based on the algorithms, there are two segments of
technology that foreign retailers can use to find partners in AI and China’s new retail.
Firstly, in the basic level, it is suggested for those retailers with a market share in
China to partner with the AI companies which are serving cloud, data, and algorithms
technology. They can integrate AI in new retail to form their own consumer group
portraits and analyze their preferences and expectations through the data analysis
services. Here is the list of companies, which are providing cloud, data, and
algorithms services.

On the other hand, China’s AI companies in technology may bring more solutions to
the current retail bottleneck. With applications such as computer vision, intelligent
speech, and natural language processing, retail companies can directly target the
consumers and reduce costs by more intelligent customer services and improved
shopping experience.AI companies in China who are developing this type of
technology are below:

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 84
An innovative retailer should use AI to make accurate forecasts. AI in China’s new
retail is more expansive than just unmanned stores, as it is reaching into the territory
of hypermarkets and supermarkets, and other retail methods that are yet to be
invented. In this world of big data, insights from AI will contribute to creating
competitive advantages for retailers to improve the efficiency and profitability within
the Chinese retail industry.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 85
AI IN MANUFACTURING

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 86
 How Artificial Intelligence is enhancing the
manufacturing industry
AI in China’s manufacturing industry is finding its ground with the advancement of
smart manufacturing technology. Manufacturers are developing new applications
based on AI algorithms designed to help make complex decisions. Many medium
and large manufacturers are starting to use data analytics to optimize factory
operations, boosting equipment utilization, product quality while reducing energy
consumption and production cost. With new supply-network management tools,
factory operational managers have a clearer view of raw materials and manufactured
parts flowing through a manufacturing network, which can help them schedule
factory operations and product deliveries to cut costs and improve efficiency.
Through the active use of data mining, engineers and technicians are gaining better
understanding of machines, so to improve reliability. Smart, connected products are
sending customer experience data to product managers to help them anticipate
demand and maintenance needs and design better products.

The application of Artificial Intelligence in Chinese factories includes the

manufacturing process, product development, monitoring, logistics, inventory, and
environmental safety. The use of Artificial Intelligence in Chinese factories is
categorized into two sections: Production research and development, and the
Improvement of production process.

Ask an expert

“AI is extremely relevant when it comes to

inventory—leveraging AI to be able to make a forecast
on inventory allocation, optimization in terms of
product assortment of quantities across different
geographies across different channels.”

Max Peiro, CEO of Re-Hub

AI has improved the productivity of smart factory technology

in China
Since the late 1990s and early 2000, most production companies begin to increase
their production vehemently, minimizing their labour cost and maximizing the
production capability. It is undeniable that Artificial Intelligence in Chinese factories
provides the smartest, safest, and most precise way of achieving optimal productivity.
The following are notable AI companies that have taken part in automating
manufacturing in China.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 87
MEGVII
MEGVII has core competencies in deep learning founded in Beijing and is a pioneer in
applying AI technology and computer vision algorithms to the Internet of Things (IoT)
use cases. The company’s mission is to use innovative AI technology to deliver the
value of AI in China’s manufacturing industry and foreign industries as a whole.
MEGVII’s first commercialized AI product was a facial recognition solution. The
Company has developed its proprietary deep learning framework Brain++, which
functions as a unified underlying architecture and provides critical support tailored
for the Company’s algorithm training and model improvement processes.

[Source: MEGVII “Algorithms Engine”]

Leveraging its strong software-hardware integration capabilities, MEGVII has

achieved leading positions in several key vertical markets, including personal IoT, city
IoT, and supply chain IoT. MEGVII is building an AI infrastructure to connect and
power various IoT devices, to solve real-life problems, pain points, and hitches that
may hinder the success of AI in China’s factories. MEGVII is dedicated to helping
customers achieve specific goals such as user authentication and fraud reduction,
traffic optimization, and labor efficiency gains.

Changying Precision Technology

Deep learning algorithms applied to manufacturing has reduced production costs in
Chinese factories. Changying Precision Technology Co., Ltd. Changying Precision" is
a research and development, production and sales of intelligent terminal, mobile
phone components, new energy automotive components, industrial robots, and
automation system integration. AI Presently, Changying Precision has approximately
35,000 employees and has a global presence. The compound revenue growth rate of
2010-2017 is over 50%, and the compound profit growth rate of net profit attributable
to shareholders of listed companies exceeds 40%. In 2017, the company's operating
income exceeded 8.4 billion yuan, and its net profit was 571 million yuan.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 88
Foxconn
As mentioned earlier in the white paper, Foxconn has been a leader in automated
factories with fully automated smartphone-component factories, also known as ‘dark
factories’. Foxconn Group has fully leveraged its expertise in software and hardware
to integrate its unique manufacturing prowess with emerging technology. It has
expertise in the areas of cloud computing, mobile devices, IoT, big data, AI, smart
networks and robotics/automation.

[Source: Foxconn, “Intelligent Robot Arm”]

Facial Recognition gives Chinese factories a competative edge

Due to the rapid development of information technology, computer science, and
advanced manufacturing technology in China, manufacturing is changing from
automated production to digitalized and intelligent production. SenseTime, a
company specializing in deep learning and computer vision, is one of the biggest
unicorns in China, and a spearhead of these changes. It provided the German
automotive car-manufacturing factory (Daimler) with a public face cloud service for
face recognition, using authentication technology to help business development.
SenseTime will continue making an impact in both smart manufacturing and smart
cars, since it signed a five-year cooperation agreement with Daimler, to accelerate
the research and development of smart cars.32

Natural language technology in factories

Xiaoyi is a Chinese artificial intelligence technology company focusing on industrial
applications of cognitive intelligence. Xiaoyi has created professional service

32
Sensetime raises US$620 Million in Serier C+ Funding, Jump Start Mag

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 89
systems based on natural language processing technology, which is used in
industries of finance, medical, education, automobile, electric power, manufacturing,
and exhibition. Xiaoyi serves as an example of the current development of natural
language processing technology that will be more and more relevant in Chinese
factories.

Mor.AI focuses on cognitive computing, natural language understanding, with

autonomous voice interactive full-stack technology designed to help people
communicate with machines. It is an APP-based dialogue application that uses voice
interaction. In the automotive industry, it can provide the vehicle voice assistant,
which supports multi-modal interaction, multi-screen interaction, multi-device
collaboration, car home interconnection, IMOV car networking overall solution.

Robotics in manufacturing
STEP Electric Corp. Is a small company that provides industrial robots along with
control systems and software for industries like welding, packaging, construction,
and machining. It has a market cap of about $870 million.

[Source: Shanghai Step Electric “Industrial Robot”]

SIASUN manufactures sells industrial robots, such as automatic assembly and

testing production lines for automobile, motorcycle, engineering machinery, and
electronics assembly industries. Besides heavy industry applications, Siasun
developed collaborative robots that can work with humans, as underground rescue
robot as well as humanoid helpers for interpretation, meal delivery, information
sharing, and nursing homes. The company has a partnership with GM Motors, Ford,
AGCO Changzhou, Great wall motor, SANDISK, and Geely auto; it currently has a
market cap of $4.23 billion.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 90
 [Source: Siasun “Spot and welding System”]

AI applied to distribution
AI in China’s manufacturing industry has recorded an unprecedented success in
Logistics and Warehousing. Geek+ leads the technology revolution by applying
advanced robotics and AI technology to realize high-flexibility and intelligent logistics
automation solution. Geek+ provides leading, reliable, one-stop enterprise-level
service with strong technological strength.

[Source: Geek+ “Automated Forklift”]

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 91
 [Source: Geek+ “Sorting Robot”]

Artificial Intelligence in Chinese Factories is accelerating economic development, and

China’s global competitiveness. With its biggest tech companies driving momentum
for R&D, China is one of the leading hubs of AI development. Its vast population and
diverse industry have the potential to generate huge volumes of data that can count
on an enormous market. The wide adoption of AI technology in China’s factories
could be crucial to future economic growth as the nation’s population ages,
heightening the need to accelerate productivity growth. Some of the required building
blocks include a more open data environment and well-trained data science talents.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 92
AI IN TRANSPORTATION

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 93
 Shaping the future of transportation
Artificial intelligence is redefining the value associated with automobiles. AI
technology in transportation connects people, cars, and roads, leading to smart,
ecologic driving. AI in the transportation industry is dramatically changing the course
of history in the field of transport not only in China but also all over the world.
Computational power and high-value data are the core strengths of the
multi-dimensional transportation industry. AI uses in the transportation industry, such
as self-driving cars, computer vision security at metro stations, and “Urban brain”
traffic analysis, leads transportation towards an intelligent era. The negative effects
of transportation such as accidents, congestion, pollution, etc. require new
technology to make the industry safer, more comfortable, and environmentally
friendly.

Applications of AI in China’s transportation industry

Intelligent transportation is the integration of advanced information technology, data
communication, transmission technology, electronic sensing technology, control
technology, and computer technology into the entire traffic management system. AI
in China’s transportation industry goes beyond individual vehicles to include citywide
and possibly nation-wide interconnectivity.

Computer vision replaces manual security checks metro

stations
Security checks are an important daily part of Chinese subways and trains. However,
a human normally has to operate the traditional security check system. The
efficiency and accuracy of the check-in are vulnerable to human error.
To maintain constant efficiency and the accuracy, Guangzhou implemented AI in
their public transport, “smart security” at three metro stations. After the users
register the face scan system through their mobile phone app, they can quickly pass
the device security check-in system by scanning their face or the QR code in less
than two seconds.

Facial recognition in transportation, ticket-free train station

experiments
In Shanghai, the railway station officially launched the real-name verification system
supported by AI face recognition technology. Passengers holding the
second-generation ID card can scan their face at the train station. When a passenger
approaches the machine, it will automatically compare the passengers’ information
with the photo on the ID card. Once the information is matched, the gate will open
and the passenger is allowed to enter the station. Even when it is barely noticeable,
AI in public transport will play a key role in facilitating the daily commute of
passengers.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 94
“Urban brain” of traffic analysis
By analyzing the urban traffic data and observing the real-time traffic conditions
through the CCTV system, the “Urban brain” could optimize the traffic signal timing.
In big cities, the traffic, with millions of people and cars, can become a serious issue
for the livelihood of the denizens. Thanks to big data, AI technology in transportation
can be much more accurate than human drivers. Currently, Huawei provides a
intelligence transportation solution called “TrafficGo” and is leading innovation to
improve the efficiency of the traffic in the target area. Huawei has conducted the first
pilot project in Bantian, Shenzhen, whose results where described in the company's
website as follows: “the delay of cooperative optimization vehicles in multi-junction
areas has significantly decreased, surpassing the manual control level”. Another
pilot project was conducted in Shangdi and Beijing, and whose results were reported
as follows: “the average delay in the main direction of Shangdi’s third street
decreased by 25.2%, which led to the average delay of surrounding roads decreased
by 10-20%”.33

AI uses in the transportation industry: Driverless vehicles

Apart from the computer vision security check system, entrance without a ticket, and
“urban brain,” one of AI’s most notable applications in transportation is self-driving
cars. In October of 2018, the Chinese Minister for Industry and Information
Technology, Miao Wei, said at the World Autonomous Vehicles Conference “China is
promoting the development of autonomous vehicles. By 2020, the Chinese
autonomous vehicles market is expected to reach 100 billion RMB”.

Companies engaged in self-driving cars in China

At present, the autonomous assisted parking technology is relatively mature, and the
application of AI technology in transportation is more and more popular. AI
technology has entered the transportation industry from different perspectives.
Daxue Consulting has conducted extensive research on the major companies in
China’s AI transportation industry chain.

Intelligent transportation systems in Chinese cities

Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen are the first cities to launch self-driving
vehicles in China. Municipal Transportation Commission of Guangzhou made it clear
that it supports and encourages self-driving vehicles. As one of the firt self-driving
car companies approved by the Municipal Transportation Commission of Guangzhou,
Weride successively picked up more than 3,000 passengers, covering more than
70,000 kilometers.

Smart transportation in China: Driverless vehicles applications

At present, the application of artificial intelligence in the field of autonomous vehicles
includes mostly self-driving trucks and self-driving shared vehicles.

33
TrafficGo description on Huaweicloud.com

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 95
Self-driving vehicles in logistics
In the field of logistics, autonomous vehicle technology is applied to long-distance
trucking and in-city delivery trucking. Driverless technology could reduce the number
of accidents caused by human and saving overall costs. Suning and Jingdong
announced that they had tested their L4-class unmanned heavy trucks in China and
Silicon Valley.
The implementation of unmanned trucks mainly reduces risk in blind driving areas,
poor maneuverability, and poor stability. These problems could be solved by artificial
intelligence multi-sensor on-line calibration, multi-sensor fusion, remote sensing,
refined modeling and control, and multi-objective optimization decisions. Once
self-driving trucks are commercialized, they would reduce energy consumption,
reduce workforce costs, and reduce the error rate caused by human drivers.

Shared self-driving cars in China

Shared self-driving cars in China are among the most useful future applications of AI.
For now, private car ownership in China is only 5%, and younger generations prefer
sharing cars/taxis. The concept of smart transportation in China grouped self-driving
cars is in accordance with the trends. Human driving has many problems, such as the
high cost, lack of parking spaces, safety risks, etc. However, shared self-driving cars,
users could book through the application, and the nearby vehicle would come. Once
the passenger finishes using the vehicle, it could automatically return to the parking
lot. Even though current AI technology in transportation is not mature enough, in the
near future AI uses in the transportation industry will certainly become more
common.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 96
AI IN FOOD AND BEVERAGE

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 97
 The future of dining is here
The use of AI in the food and beverage industry in China allows players to save time
in the production phase in order to focus on more creative solutions and research.
Now robots exist in restaurants factories using AI in China, with the aim to make the
daily life of Chinese consumers easier.

Restaurants are the next target of AI

According to the China Industry Information Network, China's catering industry
reached revenue of 4.27 trillion Yuan ($628 billion) in 2018, setting a new record. In
this dynamic sector, the use of artificial intelligence is becoming more and more
widespread. The Chinese e-commerce giants have embarked on the race.
Robots in restaurants in China
The most visible application of AI in food and beverage is the use of robots in
restaurants in China. Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com plans to open 1,000
restaurants by 2020 where food will be prepared and served by robots.
Chinese robot chefs
A leader AI in the food and beverage industry is Xcafé, a restaurant opened by
JD.com in Tianjin at the end of 2018. This 400 square meter restaurant can welcome
up to 100 people ready to enjoy the dishes prepared by the robot chefs. The process
is simple: one person supervises approximately five robots that are in charge of all
the preparation steps. Receiving orders, choosing products, assembling, cooking and
plating up, everything is done using artificial intelligence.

[Source: Jd.com/Xcafe – Smart restaurants in China]

However, the example of Xcafé shows us that robots are not yet managing
restaurants alone. On the other hand, they can also still represent a big advantage;
smart restaurants in China are becoming a real tourist attraction. Having cooks or
robot bartenders is still something new around the world and a lot of chains are

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 98
promoting it to attract customers who are keen on high tech. In Shanghai, the Ratio
recently opened its doors with an attractive concept: the bartender is a
state-of-the-art robot that modeled after the arm and hand of a real bartender.
Customers order on a Wechat mini-program and can see the robot prepare their
orders in front of them. Of course, as far as human interaction is concerned, human
managers are still there to answer customers' questions.

[Source: Ratio Café – AI in the food and Beverage industry in China]

Chinese robot waiters
The kitchen is not the only place you can find robots in restaurants in China. They are
also in the dining room, interacting directly with customers to take orders and serve
meals. Haidilao, one of the largest hotpot chains in China (the only Chinese food
company with a revenue of over 10 billion) opened the world’s first artificial
intelligence technology restaurant in Beijing in 2018. A fully mechanized service with
intelligent robots as waiters and a panoramic screen to order everything to enjoy your
private custom-made hotpot experience.
Our next goal is to be the most intelligent restaurant in Beijing, we are
already conducting technical discussions. I believe that in 10 or 20 years,
there will be no more people in hotpot restaurants, only two engineers who
can take charge of everything
- Zhang Yong (CEO of Haidilao)
In the dining room, humanoid robots navigate the tables to serve customers their
orders taken on iPads. However, the restaurant is so big that there are still human
waiters to take care of the 93 tables. In this case, it appears robots do not entirely
replace restaurant staff, but rather serve as a novelty to attract customers.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 99
 [Source: SCMP – Robots in restaurants in China]

[Source: AFP – Robot.he smart restaurant in China]

Alibaba has also hopped on board with AI in the Food and Beverage industry in China
with Robot.He. Following its New Retail project, the restaurant, located in the
Shanghai suburb of Nanxiang is part of a Hema's store. In alignment with Hema’s
Retailtainment strategy, waiters are small robots that bring you dishes prepared by
cooks.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 100

Leverage big data to understand customer expectations
AI in the Chinese catering industry also makes it possible to predict customers'
expectations and tastes in order to offer them an ultra-personalized experience. This
is what the Chinese pizzeria chain La Cesar has set up.
By analyzing the data collected on Baidu, marketers can see what the current food
trends are. The analysis of social networks or other applications such as Dazhong
Dianping via web robots can also be very relevant. The idea is to analyze trends to
create appropriate recipes and menus. Therefore, the restaurant is constantly
changing its menu. This reminds us of the business model of major international
clothing chains such as Zara, which relies on the continuous renewal of its
collections.

Ask an expert

“Nowadays there are massive amounts of data and

brains can leverage this amount of data to understand
what is the potential in these market segments,
understand who are their target customers there, and
then be able to target them.”
Max Peiro, CEO of Re-Hub

Thus, the intelligent software combines searches, comments, and photos to create a
list of the most frequently used keywords to produce a monthly report that serves as
a basis for managers to create new recipes. This is how the cranberry smoothie
became a success after a 2017 analysis showing the trend of sour flavors and
cranberries during the summer. Another example is the durian pizza, which is the
brand's best-seller.
In China, KFC also uses data to predict customer choices. Thanks to intelligent
software that assembles the customers' faces and their previous choices, KFC is
able to offer a choice adapted to each customer. The facial recognition technology
was developed in partnership with Baidu.

[Source: The Guardian – AI in China’s F&B]

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 101

AI used to ensure safety and hygiene
Beyond purely marketing applications, AI in China’s F&B also can ensure kitchen
hygiene. It has become a very sensitive subject in China since the 2008's
melamine-tainted infant formula scandal. The relatively high frequency of such
incidents takes a great toll on consumer trust. Artificial intelligence can be a solution.
A camera-based system is currently being piloted in the Zhejiang city of Shaoxing to
recognize poor sanitation habits of cooks. A camera system installed in kitchens is
able to recognize 18 different types of health risks such as smoking, using your
phone, not washing your hands or touching your hair. An alert is then sent to
managers via a mobile app. The system also recognizes good sanitary habits such
as disinfecting surfaces, using gloves, checking the temperature of refrigerators. This
system based on motion and facial recognition can encourage employees to
maintain good habits that would be financially rewarded. January 2019,
approximately 1,700 cameras have been installed in more than 800 restaurants in
Minhang district, Shanghai. 34 The food safety project is led by the Market
Supervision and Management Bureau of Minhang, which will also receive alerts when
cameras spot poor hygiene behaviours.

The advantages of AI in the Chinese catering industry:

Rapid service, the average robots in restaurants are capable of processing up
to 8,000 dishes each day
Robots have more endurance than human staff
Fun, attractive and novel
No room for human error, protocols are respected bringing transparency for
everyone
An increasingly important database for marketers and the beginning of the era
of extreme personalization
However, currently the price of a robot remains too high for AI in the Chinese catering
industry to become mainstream. For a restaurant to employ a robot worker, it must
pay about 50,000RMB for each robot and then several hundred RMB each month for
its upkeep. To compare, a waiter in Shanghai would cost between 3,000 to 10,000
RMB per month. While facial and speech recognition systems can be profitable, robot
restaurant managers are not yet ready.

AI in food delivery in China

Delivery drones in China
A famous application of AI in the food and beverage industry in China are delivery
drones. These are supposed to facilitate the process of meal transport to the country
where food delivery apps have an estimated 355 million users35. However, the

34
Minhang District Market Supervision and Management Bureau, EFE.com
35
China food delivery market analysis, iiMedia Research

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 102

introduction of drones requires the creation of air routes over cities. A trend that is
still being tested today and which causes a real problem of competition between the
different brands. Ele.me, China's largest delivery application with 260 million users
and 53.4% market share was the first to receive government approval to work on the
first air routes for delivery drones. Thus, 17 roads have been approved over Shanghai,
in the Shanghai Jinshan Industrial Park. This should benefit more than 100
restaurants in the area. The Ele.me drones used during this test phase are capable of
carrying up to 6 kilos and flying at a maximum speed of 65km/hour. The trend is
gaining momentum with China's e-commerce platform JD.com also entering China's
drone delivery market with a license to experiment with delivery drones in Shaanxi
Province last year.

[Source: Pandaily – AI in food delivery in China]

How automated food delivery is breaking records

While drones can become the solution, for the time being, other AI-based software
and systems are being used. That is how Meituan Waimai, commonly known as
Meituan, which controls 40% of China's food delivery market, developed its
AI-powered Super Brain, a system to automatize food delivery in China. The system
aims to ensure the best delivery times at any time of the day or night and under any
weather conditions. Everything is based on data: artificial intelligence analyses data
before, during and after delivery to always improve. The aim is also to offer
customers a very accurate estimate of delivery time in real-time. This is how Meituan
Waimai promised to break all delivery records in China.

Controlling the food supply chain

It all starts in the fields
Artificial intelligence has also made its entry into the world of agriculture in China.
Thanks to cloud-based agricultural intelligence, farmers are now able to improve their
yield and the quality of their product. Alibaba recently launched its "ET Agricultural

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 103

Brain" in Shanghai, a powerful intelligent software based on big data that will change
the lives of Chinese farmers. The AI is able to record all the production details to
regulate the full life-cycle of production. Vegetable and pig farmers have already
started using the program. This is the case of Tequ Group, a pig breeding company
based in Sichuan that has been using Alibaba's technology for several months to
raise its pigs. So each pig has an identifier that allows them to set metrics, to see
which pig is sick, which pig is fertile, reducing mortality rates.

How robots perform quality assurance

The second step of the process is the establishment of AI in factories in China. This
is primarily used to improve machine performance and ensure quality. For example,
the AI modules from EZ Robot Inc. have improved production efficiency, inventory
turnover, and equipment utilization across China. However, more recently, a new type
of robot has appeared in factories using AI in China: Taste-testing robots. Powered
by artificial intelligence, they aim at guaranteeing the quality of some mass-produced
Chinese food such as pork belly, black rice vinegar, fine dried noodles, etc. Humans
previously performed this job and the process was slow. Thanks to robotic tasters,
the assessment will not vary from one person to another. According to the report of
the China National Light Industry Council, the Chinese food manufacturers that have
taken part in the government-funded AI-tasting program have received positive
feedback. The robots can also check that all the food has the same color, smell, and
taste. Finally, AI in factories in China can also sort ingredients. Food sorting is indeed
a very time-consuming step in factories because human hands carry it out. However,
with artificial intelligence and especially image and motion recognition systems,
factories using AI in China can accelerate this production phase. Products can be
sorted by size, color, and freshness.

Ensuring transparency for the customer

If AI in the food and beverage industry in China can directly serve the interests of
customers, it is in the tracking of the supply chain. Mengniu Dairy, China's
second-largest dairy company is embarking on an effort to bring the centuries-old
industry up to date using AI in China’s F&B. In the dairy industry, in particular, the
whole process is very delicate and the temperature at each stage of production must
remain the same. Mengniu is now collaborating with Alibaba to use AI to analyze the
supply chain, to gain information such as where to manufacture products and where
to collect milk, as well as how products can be transferred to customers with
maximum efficiency. Alibaba has indeed big plans to integrate food-tracking
blockchain technology into the supply chain in its stores. The company undertook
a traceability test conducted last year to track the origins of a package of mangoes
thanks to AI. It took only 2.2 seconds compared to 6 days and 18 hours using
traditional methods.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 104

Companies that use AI in China’s food and beverage industry
ZhongAn Technology
ZhongAn Technology, the tech subsidiary of Chinese Insurtech giant ZhongAn Online,
is a FinTech company focusing on the research and development of technology in
blockchain, AI, big data and cloud computing. ZhongAn Technology has already
worked on a technology relying on blockchain farming to provide a more transparent
food supply chain. They applied blockchain in raising free-range chicken in rural
areas. Their project called “Go go Chicken” is already working in more than 200 farms
in Anhui, Henan, Guizhou, Shaanxi, Gansu, Hainan, and other provinces. By 2020, it
will land in around 2,500 farms in China.
EZ Robot Inc
EZ Robot is not only specialized in AI in China’s F&B but in high-performance robots
more generally. They are known for their robots in education and how they are able to
interact with children but their robots can also be used in the catering industry.
Indeed their robots are controlled remotely and adjusted by Wi-Fi and can have vision
tracking, speech recognition, artificial intelligence, 3D printing, etc.
Hongbo Zhicheng Technology
Hongbo Zhicheng Technology is a Chinese start-up based in Shenzen that creates
"stir-frying robots", i.e. a kind of equipment that automates cooking, such as
automatic woks. They are the AI partners in China of some of the biggest names in
the F&B industry such as Haidilao or the Japanese fast-food franchise Ajisen Ramen.
If you need their robotic solutions for canteens, schools or other facilities, they can
also be a good solution. In addition to their machines, Hongbi Zhicheng Technology
is developing a research lab in Chinese cuisine to see how robots can improve in
Chinese techniques. They have also developed a digital database of recipes for
several hundred Chinese dishes.
Infinite Food
Created in 2015, Infinite Food combines food and robotics. The company's core
product is a vending machine that prepares and distributes meals on-demand. The
strong point is that robots are able to work correctly with fresh products. Today, the
company is still looking for ways to improve its product and considers it a "restaurant
in a box". It is possible to rent or buy this product.
Despite all these innovations, many people remain doubtful about the use of AI in the
food and beverage industry in China. It raises the question of the standardization of
Chinese food and the end of creativity in cooking. This calls into question the culinary
arts and the profession of chef and waiter. Do robots in restaurants in China mark the
end of conviviality? In any case, they undoubtedly help to bring a little transparency
into the production process, from the farm and factory to the consumer's plate.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 105

 AI IN VIDEO GAMES

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 106

 Taking ‘computer player’ to a whole new level
Over the past decade, artificial intelligence has proven to be the driving force behind
the next phase of the evolution of video games. China recently officially recognized
gaming as a profession, has not hidden its intentions to become one of the leaders of
this industry. So, how do big names use artificial intelligence in China’s video games?

The use of AI in China’s video game industry

Of course, the first application of artificial intelligence in China’s video games aims at
improving the gaming experience. For example, Tencent, NetEase, and Changyou,
who are the leaders in the Chinese video game industry in 2019, have all used a
speech recognition system to improve gaming immersion. This allows players to
convert their voices into texts or instructions in the game and keep their hands free.
As far as mobile games are concerned, the advances in artificial intelligence are
rather the same, and fortunately given the size of the mobile game market in China.
According to the iResearch Institute, the size of the Chinese mobile gaming market
was more than 100 billion RMB in 2018.
One example of an AI mobile game is Caihua Xiaoge (猜画小歌) which employs
image recognition technology. The challenge for players is drawing pictures
accurately so the games image recognition algorithm can recognize what the picture
is. If the computer can correctly identify your drawing, then you move onto the next
stage.

[Source: Sixthtone – Caihua Xiaoge, AI in China’s video games]

Intelligent recognition can also enforce regulations in the video game industry.
Tencent announced last year that it would use facial recognition to manage the hours
players spent in front of the screens, especially for young players. This artificial
intelligence system aims to limit the playing time of children under 12 to two hours

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 107

per day. Tencent thus records the players' faces and thanks to national data, blurs
the game screen or blocks the connection. This system has been implemented on
the multiplayer online battle game Honor of Kings, one of the most popular video
games in China. After several trial phases where Tencent realized that thousands of
Chinese children were trying to divert the limit, the company decided to apply this age
restriction system to 10 of its most popular games.

AI in esports
Artificial intelligence is also used in China’s esports industry. In 2018, China's eSports
industry was worth more than $13.8 billion, an 18% increase over the previous year.
According to the Chinese Gamma Data Institute, the total number of players has also
exceeded 400 million. Indeed, AI in esports in China can help to improve the playing
tactics of professional gamers. This is the case of the artificial intelligence designed
by Tencent's AI team to beat the professional players of Starcraft II. Starcraft is a
very popular game in China (星际争霸) and has four teams of well-known
professional players who participate in international tournaments representing the
country. Thus, the defeat of the professional players TLO and MaNa (German and
Polish) against artificial intelligence shocked the gaming community in China. It also
means that today, artificial intelligence in China’s video games has advantages for
the professional industry: it is a new way to train players.

AI in video games creation

In China, artificial intelligence is also used to accelerate or improve the video game
creation process. First, when it comes to working on NPCs (nonplayer characters).
Artificial intelligence in China’s video games, therefore, makes it possible to make the
behavior of these fake characters more natural and reactive to the players’ actions.
NPCs can either have simple reactions based on a predefined sequence by the
computer or react differently to each player's action.
However, we know that today's great adventure video games, even with a large
budget, do not always use this type of AI. The risk is that artificial intelligence makes
NPCs too unpredictable and that it ruins the game's history written by creators. Thus,
until creators have found a middle ground for the use of artificial intelligence in
China’s video games, NPCs that are smarter than players are yet in store for
tomorrow. For the moment, artificial intelligence is mainly used to make the graphics
and movements of characters as realistic as possible, like in the Tencent video game,
Ring of Elysium, known and loved for its very high-quality graphics. In addition, the
use of AI in video games can reduce some production or testing costs.

Evaluating artificial intelligence with video games

Not only can AI help develop video games, but video games can also help program AI.
Researchers around the world are working with video games to help machines
develop. The aim is to use the virtual schematics of video games to test the skills of
intelligence systems when it comes to, reacting to the environment and learning from
their mistakes. One example is using a virtual driving game to test autonomous cars.
Tournaments between gamers and artificial intelligence also test the power of an

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 108

artificial brain against a real human brain. In China, in 2016, Google's AlphaGo
algorithm faced one of the best players in the world's Go game, Ke Jie.

[Source: Wu Hong/EPA – Testing AI in China]

The victory of this artificial intelligence is proof that games and video games are an
excellent way to test, because they provide structure, repetition, and reinforcement.
Therefore, video games have, been used for decades in China as a means of testing
and evaluating the power and performance of artificial intelligence systems in
situations that mimic reality.

The success of VR games in China

A large market expected to reach 45.09 billion USD
Of course, artificial intelligence is at the heart of the latest success of the video game
industry in China: VR games. According to Grand View Research, the virtual reality
game market size in China is expected to reach USD 45.09 billion by 2025. An
‘immersive’ game experience where players put on a VR headset and use controllers
to maneuver around the virtual world. Horror, adventure, strategy, dance, and even
flight or travel simulations are available. The success of VR games in China is so big
that everything is a pretext to use virtual reality. Recently, a VR game in China went
viral on Weibo. A game that allows Shanghai residents to practice sorting waste just
before the new law on waste sorting is implemented in July 2019. The principle of the
game is probably one of the simplest in the world. However, it was a great success;
some people even made long queues to play.
VR facilities on the rise
Despite the success of VR games in China, the purchase of personal headsets is too
expensive for most Chinese people who are not big gamers. People who want to try
VR games in China must find places where it is possible to play at a lower cost. This
can be in shopping malls where more and more activities are offered in VR, in cafés
or even in cinemas. Amusement parks are also an excellent place to test VR activities,

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 109

as highlighted in the HTC Vive report, which showed that 70% of respondents were
interested in attractions with VR in amusement parks. This success has also resulted
in the opening of VR facilities, spaces dedicated to VR activities and VR games in
China. According to a recent report by the iFanr Institute, in 2018 there were 50,000
VR arcades in China. Among them, there are two big names which have made their
fortune thanks to this VR arcade concept: Seekers VR, which is based in Wenzhou
and owns a franchised chain of 200 arcades in more than 70 cities across the
country and Xigua which has nearly 100 "Player No. 1" VR arcades across China.
In Shanghai, players have many options of VR facilities, so competition is becoming
tense, and the criteria are often price-oriented. Here is a list of the best competitors,
with an idea of the price for each:
MacHouse: A sizeable bright space which looks like an old bowling alley from the
1980s, equipped with the HTC Vive. Price: 388RMB for two people for an hour
Mofamen: Friendly atmosphere, equipped with the HTC Vive Pro, in bonus the
green background to animate the player into the game. Price: 119RMB per person
for an hour
Joy’s VR: Large choice of VR games and VR headsets, HTC Vive Pro, Oculus and
PlayStation VR. Price: 170RMB per person for an hour
VR+: An arcade with rooms adapted to the game you want to play (example
playing a horror game in a bloody fake prison). Equipped with the Oculus Rift.
Price: 48RMB for a 20-minute game
Star Trek: A VR facility around the StarTrek theme. Price: 98RMB for an hour
Chuangyi Zhigu VR: An arcade built in a large apartment with a wide choice of VR
systems. Price: between 98RMB and 128 RMB for an hour
VR Better: A VR facility on the theme of science fiction in an apartment where you
can also drink and eat. Price: between 100RMB and 128RMB for an hour
Qingxing Mengjing VR: A place at the forefront of the latest VR innovations in a
more natural environment. Price: between 87RMB and 138RMB for an hour.

Top VR headsets in the video games industry in China in 2019

However, the VR headsets market is still growing and unfolding many opportunities.
In its Global Entertainment and Media Outlook 2017-2021, PwC found that China’s
demand for VR headsets would reach 85.9 million within five years, overtaking the
US’s projected 68 million. When asking Chinese gamers which criteria are the most
important when it comes to VR headsets, comfort comes in first place with 46%, then
following screen resolution with 44%, convenience 40%, good content 40% and
precise control 40%. Thus many international players are fighting to win the hearts of
Chinese consumers, including HTC, Occulus, and Sony. For example, the
best-selling headset in China is the HTC brand, which alone takes 33.1% of the
market share of the Chinese VR headsets market. However, major international
brands such as Oculus and Sony are finding it more difficult to penetrate the Chinese

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 110

market. Oculus only launched its VR headset in China in January 2018. After HTC,
domestic players dominate the market.

[Source: HTC Vive website – HTC headset to play VR games in China]

The second and third most popular VR headset providers in China are Pico and DPVR
with 28.5% and 13.3% of VR market share, respectively. More recently, the Chinese
video platform iQiyi also released a new VR headset called Qiyu 2S.

AI companies in China’s gaming industry

Companies in gear
ANTVR
ANTVR is a Chinese company dedicated to VR and AR systems. After a round of
investment, thanks to Sequoia Capital, the company founded in 2014 has sold more
than 1 million VR products worldwide. Several collaborations with brands such as
Lenovo, One Plus, and Motorola make it an excellent AI partner in China. One of its
flagship products is its technology made for VR game in China called ANTVR Cyclop,
which features the latest technological innovations and is compatible with Steam. In
addition, ANTVR open sources its hardware for developers to create games for the
kit.
DPVR
DPVR is today considered the world-leading VR technology company. Based in
Shanghai, its products have been sold across more than 100 countries. Since its
foundation, the company has received investments from many listed companies and
investment institutions such as Xun Lei technology, Kai Ying technology, and Ao Fei
which prooves its potential as an AI partner in China. Through research and

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 111

innovation, DPVR aims to build user-friendly VR Products and solutions for everybody
to easily enjoy the VR gaming experience.
The company develops headsets for video games, movies, and music but also
complete kits dedicated to playing VR games in China such as the E3 Polaris:
According to the research institute Canalys, with 24% market share, DPVR accounted
for the largest market share among the mainland China VR brands. So it is also a very
good choice if you want to partner with an AI company in China.
Pico
Pico develops innovative VR products which enable users to experience VR
easily.Founded in 2015, Pico is now huge all over the world (US, Europe, China, Japan)
with over 300 team members. The company has developed its own platform called
the Pico Digital Platform, which features games, apps, and videos from a variety of
developers and publishers. They have around 150 apps and games available and can
work directly with developers who want to create a game or app for Pico devices,
convenient for an AI partner in China. One of their best products is the Pico, which is
an all-in-one VR headset which offers real freedom in the gaming experience. It
enables movements in all directions, which is perfect for games with total immersive
VR experience without wires or phones.

Companies in technical savoir-faire

Dgene
Dgene, founded in May 2016, is a VR solution provider based in Shanghai. The
company has worked in different industries such as real estate, education, tourism,
healthcare, and of course, digital entertainment.
Dgene develops VR solutions with light-field technology to provide 360 3D
reconstructions. It’s an imaging technology which would be very useful as an AI
partner in China to work on ultra-realistic reproduction of real-world for video games.
The company won 100 million RMB funds from IDG Capital in 2018 and also received
1 billion-dollar fund, from Alibaba (co-investors: Safran Fund; GSR Ventures Venture)
and angel funds of 45 million RMB from Shanghai United Investment. It means that
today Dgene has a lot of plans to develop and invest: they plan to expand the 3D
reconstruction technology into our mobile phones via the camera.
Realis
Realis offers an optical camera tracking system for virtual reality. It works like a
target tracking software which can be based on multiple cameras to obtain the right
two-dimensional data and real-time calculation. Their system uses cameras to
capture the data to identify the trajectory of tracking objects. They can be a beneficial
AI partner in China because their cases include gaming, and they offer installation as
well as packaged equipment rental program. With years of research and
development overseas, their team is able to develop independently low-latency and
high-accuracy VR solutions. As a potential AI partner in China, Realis has previously

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 112

worked in the video games industry in China producing PVP games with multiple
players at the same scene. They are now working on the future of VR games in China:
offsite online VR gaming. Players in different cities will be able to play together in the
same VR battle.
The use of artificial intelligence in China’s video is expanding rapidly. Its interest is
that it can be used for many different things, whether to improve the gaming
experience and game creation or to help machines learn and grow. Gamers in China
still see AI in video games as something very innovative and therefore attractive.
Additionally, the recent wide-scale adoption of 5G networks is expected to further
boost the VR development. This promises to be a great time for VR video games and
AI applications in the Chinese ludic industry.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 113

AI USAGE BY PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 114

 Modern tools for managing humanity
“The dividend of government policies is a key factor behind China’s AI development.”
- Robin Li, Baidu co-founder and CEO

One of the Chinese government's greatest ambitions, with the Communist Party at
the forefront, is to make China the world leader in artificial intelligence and the
world's first innovation center by 2030. The Chinese government established the Next
Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan (AIDP) in 2017. The financial
resources dedicated to this new plan are equal to China's ambition: $22 million per
year, a sum that contributes to a budget that should reach $59 million by 2025.
China’s AI development plan prioritizes research and innovation in applications of AI
in the Chinese military and defense industry, as well as insecurity and surveillance.
The aim is to become the world’s first innovation center by 2030.

Champions at the forefront of innovation

In 2018, the Chinese government took a major step forward in China’s AI
development plan by announcing that China's technology giants Baidu, Alibaba and
Tencent (BAT) along with leading facial recognition companies Flytek and
SenseTime, officially became China’s "AI Champions." This new position benefits
technology companies by ensuring them a position at the forefront of the innovation
race, freeing them of the competitive threat of state-owned enterprises. However,
collaboration with the government on national security and military applications of AI
in China is the price to pay for this strategic position. The Chinese government has
specifically entrusted certain tasks to the local technology giants to achieve its
Development Plan. Alibaba Cloud must dedicate its research in AI for Smart Cities,
Baidu in the sector of autonomous vehicles, Tencent in medical imaging, and iFlytek
in voice recognition. The Chinese government has also set up a Strategic Advisory
Committee made up of leading technology universities, the top AI experts in Chinese
technology start-ups and "AI Champions.” The “Made in China 2025” plan is another
essential plan, which aims to increase China’s autonomy in AI, and reveals how it has
become a national priority for the Chinese government.

Public and private: Dual use of AI technology in China

The use of AI in China essentially implies a dual-use factor: both actors from the
public - the Chinese government- and private sector benefit from the synergies of the
interdependence relation. For example, the same technology that powers
autonomous vehicles can be used in commercial vehicles in the same way as in
military AI-enabled drones in China. On the other hand, the company that specializes
in natural language analysis and automatic translation, YaTrans, collaborates with
the Chinese government on counter-espionage by making its NiuTrans system
available to the Ministry of State Security. Similarly, computer vision is widely used in
facial recognition in China for commercial purposes and is also used for military
applications, including automated image analysis. There is then a military-civil fusion
approach elevated to the level of “national strategy” that allows China to transfer

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 115

dual-use technological advances. The government promotes resource sharing and
institutionalizes links between the People's Liberation Army, the defense industry, the
private sector, and universities.

AI innovation in China needs for data

In addition, AI technology works based on an enormous amount of data. China is the
country with the most potential for AI development, mainly because of its wealth of
data to train AI systems. China is on track to have 20% of the world's data by 2020
and 30% by 203036. With fewer obstacles to data collection and dissemination, China
is accumulating an unprecedented database. With increasingly powerful computers,
new algorithms, and an extensive database, China becomes the country with the
most advantages to lead the development in machine intelligence. The 800 million
Chinese Internet users and 700 million smartphone users are the keys to China’s AI
development.

AI security systems in China allowing the government access

to data
To obtain such amounts of data from the Chinese population, in 2017 the Chinese
government enacted a law on personal data and cybersecurity requiring all
companies, both domestic and foreign, to make all data collected from users
available to the government.
Data allows the Chinese authorities to know and track the population: location,
customs, political opinions, affinities, sociability. Similarly, it feeds the AI algorithms
that will be able to refine their precision in facial and voice recognition, and in
identifying suspicious behavior. In turn, as AI technology is largely owned by private
companies, commercializing it in the market is always an option, or at least is what
the authorities say. Article 7 of China's National Intelligence Law gives the Chinese
government the authority to obtain any assistance and cooperation from tech
companies to Chinese military and security services. The Chinese government is
increasing the pressure on technology companies, subjecting them to intense
scrutiny. According to press reports, companies have noticed a growing pressure to
fall in line with Beijing's mandates during 2018. Likewise, public and private sectors
are united in a close relationship of dependence: the needs of the Chinese
government in security and military direct the R&D investment in tech companies.
The latter can develop AI devices thanks to the entry of vast amounts of data, partly
made available by the Chinese state.

36
Battlefield Singularity: Artificial Intelligence, Military Revolution and China’s Future Military Power,
Elsa Kania, Center for New American Security, 2017

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 116

MILITARY APPLICATIONS OF AI IN CHINA: THE ADVENT OF
UNMANNED WARS
Development of AI in the Chinese military is a state priority
The Chinese government's AI development plan (AIDP) strategy states that the
country will promote all kinds of research to lead innovation in national defense. The
Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) sees the transformation of today's
informative ways of warfare into future intelligentized warfare a source of national
advantage for China. AI in the Chinese is a priority, and this strategic vision makes it
easier for the PLA to achieve its desired capabilities by using breakthrough AI
technology from the private sector. China's state-owned enterprises dominate its
defense industrial base, which Jane's - a journal specialized on global defense
industry- rates as the most advanced in the Asia-Pacific region. According to the
official PLA, dictionary defines an "artificial intelligence weapon" as: "a weapon that
uses artificial intelligence to automatically pursue, distinguish and destroy enemy
targets; it is often composed of information gathering and management systems,
knowledge base systems, assistance to decision-making systems, mission
implementation systems, etc.". Today, the PLA funds a wide variety of AI projects,
and the Chinese defense industry collaborates with many private tech companies in
an extensive R&D program. Among other military applications, the PLA hopes to
improve its future capabilities by leveraging AI to create intelligent and autonomous
unmanned systems, intelligent support in command decision-making, data fusion,
and information processing. Without wishing to establish an exhaustive list, the
following are an example of military applications of AI in China.

Autonomous weapons in China: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

(UAVs)
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones, are intelligent autonomous
weapons with AI-integration. The intelligent drones in China are mainly used by the
military, as it is supposedly forbidden for commercial use. Thanks to the speed and
accuracy of identifying potential threats and transmitting information to military
bases, the use of UAVs reinforces military efficiency. No need for pilots, drones can
attack remotely by pressing a single button from the operation center. During the
12th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in November 2018, China
presented its latest stealth combat drone model. Conceived by a state-owned
company, the CH-7 is a UAV the length of a tennis court with a 22-meter (72-feet)
wingspan. In addition, also shown at the exhibition was the TYW-1 is a high-altitude,
high-strength UAV used by PLA Navy (PLAN) and PLA Air Force (PLAAF) primarily for
reconnaissance. The Chinese defense industry is beginning to incorporate higher
levels of autonomy into its UAVs: it can operate with a high degree of automation,
taking off and landing independently and involving minimal human intervention in
tracking and attacking targets thanks to the weapons incorporated.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 117

 [Source: Phys.org “The Blowfish: a UAV with AI technology in China. AI used by the
Chinese government”]

Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV)

In 2018, the state-owned China Shipbuilding Industry Company (CSIC) launched the
Marine Lizard, which is not a UAV, but an autonomous amphibious landing vehicle, a
type of USV. The vehicle can be used for protection in an amphibious assault force,
providing anti-aircraft support with armaments and avoiding an obstacle, and its
weapons are controlled remotely.

Military Command decision-making in China

Another field where the PLA is expanding military intelligence in China is on military
command decision-making that takes advantage of the potential of AI, as well as big
data, cloud computing, and machine learning. Leveraging AI in improving military
capabilities in command decision-making introduces a uniqueness on the battlefield,
where human cognition will no longer be able to keep pace with AI in future wars. AI
technology supports commanders' decision-making on the battlefield through
advanced prediction, option, and impact assessment capabilities. The PLA is
leveraging AI technology to “enhance” decision-making of fighter pilots or
commanders of submarines.

AI and Cybersecurity in China

Military computer systems are vulnerable to cyberattacks, which can result in the
loss of classified military information and damage to military capabilities. However,
AI-equipped systems can autonomously protect networks, computers, programs, and
data from unauthorized access. In addition, these AI security systems in China can
anticipate cyberattacks by logging patterns, allowing counter-attack tools to be
developed to deal with them.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 118

Current research of military applications of AI in China
The PLA is working in partnership with many academic institutions and AI expert
companies for the support of the dual-use of AI in China and military research.
Hoover Institution makes an extended description of current research projects in AI
in the Chinese military:
Using AI-enabled image processing and target recognition technology to
detect ships in satellite imagery.
Using machine and deep learning for the analysis of underwater acoustic
signals.
Implementing an AI decision-support system on nuclear submarines.

AI used by the Chinese governmnent in surveillance and

security
Video surveillance AI-technology in China
Hikvision, owned by the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation’s (CETC)
52nd Research Institute, has pursued collaboration with the PLA to provide its
AI-enabled video surveillance technology for national defense and security purposes
in China.

Facial recognition in China: tech companies working for the

state
Face++, Megvii’s powerful AI-enabled devices
Technology start-up Megvii was founded by the Chinese government to collaborate
with the police and law enforcement. Its Face++ facial recognition device is designed
to find criminals, detecting faces by analyzing data with facial points, and confirming
the identity of the person with extreme precision. The system is powered by data
provided by the government: China has a pervasive surveillance network with 170
million security cameras in its Skynet system and 400 million more in the pipeline.
Moreover, Face++ is an open platform where any developer can create their own app,
contributing to data sharing. Face++ becomes the most extensive facial recognition
platform in the world, with more than 300 thousand developers from 150 countries
using it.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 119

 [Source: NYT “Skynet, the government’s powerful surveillance system in China”]
Isvision
China is building the world's most powerful facial recognition system, ambitioning to
identify any of its 1.3 billion inhabitants in less than three seconds. The system
Isvision has been developing the system since 2015, a Shanghai security company, in
collaboration with the Chinese Ministry of Public Security. The system connects to
the police and their database of suspicious citizens, allowing them to be recognized
and tracked. Isvision AI-powered facial recognition devices have already been
installed in some areas in Beijing, and in Xinjiang and Tibet, where conflicts persist.
SenseNets
SenseNets was established by video surveillance company NetPosa Technologies
and AI start-up SenseTime in 2015. SenseNets is also part of the government's
Skynet project, the national system for fighting crime and preventing potential
disasters in China. It specializes in three types of systems: facial recognition, to
identify potential suspects and fight terrorism; crowd analysis that facilitates and
accelerates decision-making; and human verification to compare facial images with
ID card identity photos.
LL-vision
In March 2018, local police in Beijing tested a new surveillance device: smart glasses
with facial recognition and car plate identification, that then match the data in
real-time with a suspects’ database, or a “blacklist,” according to Reuters. The
AI-powered glasses are manufactured by the AI start-up LLVision, that collaborates
with the government on security matters, or as LLVision CEO Wu Fei says, in “noble
causes” (Reuters).
China's success in artificial intelligence brings economic growth to the country
through investment and talent as well as the development of economies of scale.
There is a boom in the number of AI companies and start-ups in China, innovating

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 120

relentlessly, and widely selling its technology across many industries (Know more
about the AI landscape in China in Daxue Consulting). While most of the AI
companies in China collaborate with the government within the dual-use strategy,
some of them are selling military and security technology abroad. For example, DJI,
the Chinese company world leader in consumer drones, was selected as the sole
drone provider to the New York Police Department. Moreover, China has become the
primary exporter of UAVs with clients in the Middle East, such as Egypt, Iraq, Saudi
Arabia, and the UAE. Ziyan UAV’s attack helicopter drone Blowfish A2 is gaining
increasing interest in the Middle East. China does not seem to want to slow down the
development of lethal autonomous weapons. However, there have been concerns
from within the Chinese government to avoid an AI arms race, and Alibaba’s
chairperson said that new technology such as artificial intelligence could lead to
World War III. Despite these concerns, the Chinese leadership continues pursuing
global AI primacy and its use in the military and surveillance.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 121

AI IN ADVERTISEMENT

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 122

 AI is changing the future of advertising
In 2016, the Chinese government committed its Three-Year Guidance for Internet
Plus Artificial Intelligence Plan (2016-2018) focusing on economic improvement.
2016 was the first year of or AI in China’s advertising industry. Before this, advertising
in China gradually completed the intelligence evolution of value war. The evolution
consisted of three steps: In the 1.0 era, advertisers competed in the number of
advertising resources and resource coverage; then, the focus of advertising in the 2.0
era shifted to the form and clarity of the display; finally entered the 3.0 era of big data
applications.
By 2018, the impact of AI on advertising in China is impressive. The size of the
mobile advertising market in China had exceeded 400 billion Yuan, with a growth rate
of nearly 50% 37. With the landing of AI in the Chinese advertising market, the
realization efficiency of mobile advertising is effectively improved, leading to further
growth of the advertising market.

Ask an expert

“I’m happy to say that I see in at least the past year, that there
are much less fake ads in China. There’s more safety in
programmatic advertising in China for media buying in China.
There are so many companies doing verification, viewability,
and advertisers can feel much safer in the programmatic world
today.”
Shimi Azar, General Manager of Spotad

Changes in China’s advertising industry – AI and Big data as

new focuses
With the continuous development of the marketing industry, the traditional
advertising model is no longer adapted to this environment. Under the premise of
fragmented user time, problems such as unsatisfactory advertising ROI, and unclear
target users are constantly magnified. At the same time, the viral delivery mode and
single content form will inevitably cause users to have fatigue, which will reduce the
interest in advertising. Additionally, the efficiency of media resources and traffic
management urgently needs to be improved. To improve the effect of customer
collection, and transformation, AI advertising in China combines technology with
marketing to provide more creative content based on substantial user characteristics.
AI advertising in China is at the frontlines in AI adoption and innovation. The
application of AI in China’s advertising industry can bring richer user labels, more

37
2018 China’s AI in Marketing Industry Status and Development Trends and Predictions, China’s
Industry Information, chyxx.com

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 123

advanced crowd expansion technology and optimized click transformation of the
target population. This effectively improves the advertising experience for both the
advertisers and the target market by reducing unwanted ads and unwanted targeted
audience members.
Several marketing pain points of China’s traditional advertising industry are the
balance between the amount of ads and the user experience; user engagement; user
retention; product differentiation in the Internet media. Therefore, advertisers are
focusing on the role of data and technology to solve the pain points in digital
marketing. Currently, the majority of advertising spend is digital, and AI advertising in
China thrives on massive data sets available in China.

AI exists throughout the whole marketing process

According to a survey about AI in China’s advertising industry by ibaogao, 60% of
advertisers have used AI for content creation. Besides, the proportion of ‘user insight’
and ‘effect analysis’ both equal to 46.7%. Meanwhile, other application landings that
the main attempted have been “strategy development” and “remarketing.”
Thus, three stages of advertising with applications of AI in China’s Advertising
Industry can be highlighted: the ad creation stage, the ad serving stage, and the ad
detection stage. These three advertising phases also correspond to three dimensions
content management, traffic management, and data management, respectively.

AI in Ad creation
The stage of ad creation includes hot topic matching, creative mass production,
creative screening tests, and material integration and adaptation. With the
application of AI in Ad creation, advertisers can realize the standardized production
of primary creative ideas and quickly enter the release process: realize the automatic

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 124

output of AI for standardized copywriting, design elements, graphics, text, etc. An
AI-powered system can create ads for advertisers. The function has appeared on
some social media platforms. Based on the links you promoted, those platforms
apply intelligent automation features to suggest which ads you should run. An
AI-powered system exists in some third-party tools that use smart algorithms to write
ad copy for advertisers. These systems use two AI techniques: Natural Language
Processing (NLP) and Natural Language Generation (NLG), to write ad copy in
seconds.
Alimama is a Chinese data-powered marketing technology platform of Alibaba group.
Based on the core business data and super media matrix of Ali Group, it empowers
brands to provide products and marketing platforms with AI in Ad creation. In 2018,
Alimama launched an AI copywriting product at Cannes international creative festival.
It combined Taobao and Tmall’s massive amount of content with a natural language
algorithm. Alimama has achieved three core competence-simulating human-written
proposals, real-time online sample learning, and high writing quality. The production
capacity of this AI product has reached an impressive 20,000 pieces per second.

AI in Ad serving
Ad serving is the process of advertisements disseminated to the audience. AI can
help provide accurate communication and improve return on investment. AI in ad
serving has three functions, namely scene identification, user identification and
understanding, and advertiser identification. Firstly, AI in Ad serving provides
scene-marketing power. This can be achieved by access more diverse data and
modules, then providing richer user portraits for AI, to improve the accuracy of
delivery and reduce budget waste. Additionally, anti-cheating technology can identify
false traffic, thereby improving the transparency and authenticity of the delivery.
There are many combinations of AI in Ad serving forms. Among them, search ads
and video ads are the most popular forms, 42.9% of advertisers choose them as the
form of advertising. Nowadays, video is the most popular ad carrier in China. Two
mainstream video delivery methods include Big IP and DSP (Demand Side Platform).
Big IP is now the core of brand advertising in the video field, such as TV series
advertising. Big IP creates a lot of traffic, but the cost of sponsorship is extremely
high. The other method is DSP, also known as the precision crowd. It sends ads
directly to the audience who want to see them. DSP has a relatively high-cost
performance for the accuracy of the crowd. However, it only has the dimension of the
user label, so it cannot accurately locate the placement of ads.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 125

Context marketing in China uses AI to achieve effective
advertising
Context marketing refers to the marketing behavior of consumers' psychological
state or demand in a specific, realistic scene, to effectively achieve the goal of
companies. A new form with AI advertising in China is called ASMP (AI Scene
Marketing Platform) system launched by Video++. The system uses AI technology to
structure the accumulated video content. It can complete brand exposure, product
introduction, and one-click purchase functions in videos. In specific video scenarios,
users' emotional resonance will be stimulated to maximize the effective
improvement of conversion rate and expand the income of advertisers. Compared to
traditional online video advertisements, AI scene advertisements can add about 40%
of advertising space resources and an average increase of click rate of 2.5 times. It is
estimated that the future AI scene advertisements can bring 31% value enhancement
to the online video advertising industry.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 126

Buying services while watching videos are provided by the short video platform. The
charging model includes charging commissions for e-commerce platforms, clicks,
and collection of payments for the implementation of the project. AI advertising in
China first took effect on short video platforms and live e-commerce broadcasts.
However, applications and business models in the long video platform, OTT and
other fields have yet to mature. Brands can set different advertising forms to be
embedded in video content according to their own communication needs. Applying
AI to provide high-quality solutions for video content marketing and truly complete
the seamless connection between brand and content. The ASMP system links the
user's emotion with content relevance. It enables the audience to have emotional
resonance after seeing the advertisement, which makes the advertisement more
meaningful and effective. This is the best-case scenario for advertisers.

AI in Ad detection
The main task of Ad detection is to test the advertising effects.AI in Ad detection can
help to manage data and traffic. Three aspects of AI advertising in China can be
applied: online public opinion detection and analysis, automatic analysis of we-media
data, and filtering of malicious and false traffic. One example is the process of
advertising review on websites. Poorly targeted advertisements often appear in
search engines along with malicious behaviors that collect user information, leak
user privacy and threaten user security. AI in Ad detection can not only realize
efficient information screening at the entrance but also automatic verification and
process all links of advertising promotion by aiming at the illegal words and the
constantly changing argumentation words.
At present, Baidu has used Baidu brain to build a machine recognition model by
extracting text and image information from the page. Through the treatment of
variant words simulation, trademark knowledge base, and risk word mining, it
severely cracked down on non-industry medical promotions and other violations.

AI+ in advertising
The core of advertising effectiveness is user understanding. Therefore, data
becomes a basic competitive barrier in AI+ Ad marketing, as it is the foundation of AI
advertising in China to help gain consumers insight and analysis. In terms of
companies engaged in AI in the Chinese advertising market, B2C content or service
platforms have a natural advantage in user data. On the other hand, B2B's AI
companies and advertising companies need to enhance customer data access
capabilities and rely on accumulated data to optimize delivery capabilities.

The impact of AI on advertising in China

Because of the impact of AI on advertising in China, Chinese mainstream Internet
companies and advertising companies have long been deployed in AI+ marketing.
They have used AI technology to enrich media assets and optimize delivery effects in

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 127

the original development advantages. On the other hand, it is open to customers and
empowers its capabilities directly to clients in the platform ecosystem:
Most SMEs adopt the ‘production + sales’ model, and the demand for marketing is
relatively simple and flexible, such as in e-commerce operations, SEO, social media
promotion, H5 production, offline event planning. In addition, with the impact of AI on
advertising in China, many startups are keen to create new consumer experiences
that will use new technology such as AR, VR, and face recognition. Large B2B
companies in the Chinese advertising market generally have higher advertising and
marketing budgets, and their demand is concentrated on promotional videos, offline
meetings, and offline advertising. Such companies generally choose stable,
high-quality suppliers, and production companies to collaborate.
Large B2C companies using AI in Chinese advertising are high-quality customers
competing for advertising agencies and traditional media. The advertising budget is
sufficient, and the creative, production and distribution channels are biased towards
the high-end. With the rise of Internet media, a significant portion of the budget for
such companies has moved online, while the need for user portraits, data, strategies,
and real-time monitoring has increased. Their partners are generally 4A, local
interactive marketing companies, media distribution tools developed by major
technology companies and advertising technology companies, big data-based AI
strategy providers, etc.

Ask an expert

“E-commerce in China is very strong. The infrastructure of

E-commerce in China grew significantly. It’s no more only
Alibaba and JD. There are other places, Xiaohongshu and
NetEase Kaola, even fresh vegetables and fruits, apps that are
becoming huge and have budgets to stand on media buying. We
see a lot of advertising clients from E-commerce in China.

Shimi Azar, General Manager of Spotad

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 128

 Leading AI companies in China’s advertising industry
Service Company Purpose

Establish an ‘Omni
Search engine+ Newsfeed Ads Baidu
Marketing’ platform
Intelligent marketing
Social Ads Tencent
product
Open ‘marketing API’ to
Newsfeed Ads TouTiao
the pubic
Release Intelligent
Advertising space bidding Alibaba
marketing engine OCP ‘X’
E-commerce integrated
Online videos YOUKU
into a video
E-commerce integrated
Online videos Bilibili
into video
AI predicts program
Online videos iQIYI
performance

Ad serving BlueFocus BlueMC, iDataBot, etc.

Product and video

AI technology company Moviebook
placement marketing

Ask an expert

“On the ad exchanges like Tencent they’re very strict. Put all laws aside; even if
the creative doesn’t display the brand’s name that the user can see very clear, it
can also be disqualified. They’re very strict. They want all the online advertising
displayed on their apps to be very nice, clear, and good. They don’t want bad
content. This is how they control it.
Baidu, on the other side, is much more flexible. If you are a well-known advertiser,
you will be on their white list and will be approved automatically, which means
that all the creatives will be approved automatically and you can start the
campaign in one minute. If it’s not on their white list, they will ask for
documentation.
In order to advertise on Douyin, you will have to contact ByteDance ad
department and negotiate deals on displaying ads. Similar to Facebook and
Google; they have their own in-house ad exchange that you can log into to buy
ads. ByteDance is definitely the biggest player coming up in Chinese advertising.”
Shimi Azar, General Manager of Spotad

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 129

 AI IN HOSPITALITY

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 130

 Are robots taking over the hotel industry?

Artificial Intelligence has managed to alter the shape of many industries in the world.
The appearance of automated hotels in China, such as Alibaba’s Future hotel, a
robotized hotel, is redefining the future of the hotel industry. The use of AI in
hospitality in China is creating high-tech hotels that lower management costs and
improve efficiency, replacing manual work with systems and robots. Facial
recognition check-in in hotels is becoming a reality in China, and the use of
AI-powered computers that mine data provide tailored customer experiences.
How has artificial intelligence been utilized in the hotel industry in China? How do
technology-driven consumers perceive high-tech hotels in China? How can AI
improve the guest’s experience in the Chinese market? What AI companies are
developing technology that will be used in future smart hotels in China?

How AI disrupts guests’ experience, in a good way

Alibaba’s Future hotel FlyZoo, a unique robotized hotel in China
Alibaba, known mainly for being the e-commerce and technology giant in China,
opened its first robotized hotel in December 2018, the FlyZoo Hotel. The Alibaba
Future Hotel in Hangzhou was built by Fliggy, Alibaba’s online travel platform, along
with other business units such as Alibaba A.I. Labs and Alibaba Cloud.
The main objective of this high-tech hotel is to demonstrate that artificial intelligence
is already transforming China’s Hospitality Industry and that it will inspire the tourism
and hotel industry in China and around the world to embrace innovation.
Wang Qun, CEO of FlyZoo Hotel, repeatedly said in many interviews that they would
continue to create ‘smart brains’ for automated hotels in China, as well as more
customized experiences for guests.

Four AI digital innovations in FlyZoo Hotel

Facial recognition
FlyZoo is equipt with a facial recognition check-in system. On the way to the room,
the elevator recognizes the customer and identifies the floor of their room. The room
door opens without the use of magnetic cards or keys. All this, thanks to facial
recognition technology. As China’s largest R&D spender, Alibaba is the largest single
investor in SenseTime; an AI start-up known for its facial recognition technology.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 131

 [Source: China Daily “Alibaba robotized hotel in China”]
The vocal assistance of Tmall Genie
At the Alibaba Future Hotel, the 290 rooms are equipped with the vocal assistant
Tmall Genie, who obeys all the guest’s orders by voice, whether it is to dim the lights,
change the temperature, open or close the curtains, turn on the television or even
order food.
Robot concierge
The one-meter high robot activated by Tmall acts as a concierge, accompanying the
guests to their room, providing room service, doing laundry, and even acting as a
waiter in the hotel restaurant. At the bar, the bartender is a robotic arm that can
produce more than 20 different cocktail mixes.
Buy and pay with a click
Customers begin their adventure at the Alibaba Future Hotel by booking exclusively
online through Alibaba’s Fliggy App (Alibaba’s online travel agency). When booking
the room, travelers can also choose all the features that allow them to customize
their trip as much as possible: the type of room, its location in the hotel, the
orientation, and direction of sunlight.
Like all Alibaba products, the Hotel of the Future also offers the possibility to shop
online. Guests can buy anything they see in the hotel, such as the decorative
products, using the FlyZoo purchase application. The check-out and all payments are
made with a simple click on Alipay.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 132

Tech giants Alibaba and Baidu take part in China’s AI hotels
Marriott International
International hotel chains are also transforming into high-tech hotels in China. For
instance, introducing Figgy’s facial recognition check-ins the application powered by
Alibaba in the Hangzhou and Sanya locations of the Marriott International Group.
Alibaba plays an important role in the implementation of AI technology in the hotel
industry in China, this time partnering with international hotel brands. Founded in
August 2017, the joint venture of Marriott International and Alibaba Group is an
innovative digital travel service and consulting company that aims to launch AI
technology in the hospitality industry. Alibaba’s goal is to revolutionize the hotel
experience selling high-tech solutions, thus leading China’s hospitality industry into
the future.

[Source: Hotel News Resource “ Marriot uses facial recognition in the check-in”]
This initiative appears to be successful, as joining Alibaba means also benefiting
from its capacity to engage customers and create networks. From the news section
on Marriot International’s official website, “along with digital enhancements, Marriott
International has also witnessed a significant growth of over two million loyalty
members as of June 2018. Enabled by the joint venture, members can now link their
Marriott Rewards and Fliggy memberships through status matching, earn points, and
enjoy benefits from both programs”.
InterContinental Hotel & Resorts
Similarly, the InterContinental Hotel & Resorts Group (IHG) has teamed up with
Alibaba’s competitor Baidu to enter the high-tech hotel generation and pioneer the
introduction of AI in hospitality in China. By developing “Smart rooms” with artificial
intelligence in its Beijing and Guangzhou hotels, the aim is to redefine the customer
experience in China’s hospitality industry.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 133

The Baidu DuerOs platform integrates AI technology into the Smart Rooms through
voice control devices. For example, guests can choose the ambiance of their rooms
between work or leisure mode. By offering an increasingly personalized experience,
based on customers’ choices, the circulating information allows the management
system to fine-tune guests’ tastes and expectations.
In addition to the use of robots to automate service and concierge tasks, AI in
Chinese hotels has also been introduced by the dissemination of data allowing to
automatically define the profile of the consumer and thus offer customized and
personalized experiences. Artificial intelligence brings the service or product closer
to the consumer, in a country of millions of inhabitants where the possibilities of
consumption are infinite. Using the preferences of the clients, stored during previous
trips, AI technology automatically offers prepares hotel room for the client
anticipating their preferences, offer a higher output quality than when relying only on
human effort.

Are consumers receptive to automated in China’s hotels?

China, where data sharing and facial recognition are well integrated
AI in automated hotels in China offers a high-quality personalized service to its
guests, and it is possible thanks to the circulation of data that refines the profiles and
preferences of clientele. The dependence on smartphones makes it possible to store
deep reserves of consumer data that hotels use to study and access the needs of
potential customers.
In China, there is a massive data network that circulates between companies and
state institutions to locate and watch the country’s inhabitants’ lives, among other
uses. Chinese upper-class leisure travelers are favorable to the diffusion of their data
and accept more easily to share information on their hobbies, their profile on social
media, photos, job, and geolocation. On a survey realized by Mazars, 97% of Chinese
travelers were willing to share at least one piece of personal information against 80%
of Western travelers. The integration of AI in the tourism and travel industry in China
is easier than elsewhere.
Facial recognition check-in in hotels in China is just another example of the spread of
AI-technology across Chinese industries: facial recognition is used by banks,
financial institutions, airports, restaurants, many Chinese start-ups, mobile apps, and
the government. On a Washington Post’ report in 2018, an inhabitant from Chong
Qing stated that the facial recognition camera that allows access to her apartment is
a useful convenience: “If I am carrying shopping bags in both hands, I just have to
look ahead and the door swings open,” she said. “And my 5-year-old daughter can
just look up at the camera and get in. It’s good for kids because they often lose their
keys.” Personalized services driven by AI technology have become a priority for
Chinese travelers.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 134

A fascination with AI and modern technology

[Source: Mazars “Which travelers are accepting of AI?”38]

Chinese consumers, especially from young generations and, increasingly, the
growing middle class of Tier 3 and Tier 4 cities, are attracted to virtually everything
tech-related. The notion of artificial intelligence is much more deeply rooted in the
Chinese mindset compared to the west..
Exposure to futuristic products or experiences is a real pleasure for today’s Chinese
population. High-tech hotels in China represent not only a step forward in comfort
and modernity, but also an attraction. With growth in China’s smart home appliances,
guests would look for the same level of comfort and automatio during their stay in
hotels than at home.
Chinese consumers also prefer interacting less with humans, as technology
improves. The FlyZoo Hotel is robotized in all the tasks facing the public, but not in
those behind such as the kitchen and cleaning services. The robots are part of
Alibaba’s devices to combine high-tech with reduced personnel costs, eliminating the
need for guests to interact with other people.

Consumer comfort levels with mobile payment in China

Another attractive feature of implementing AI in hospitality in China is online
payment and purchasing. With 583 million people using mobile payment transactions
in China in 2018 and still growing, online checkout and payment in hotels are bound
to be the first innovation in hotels that have not implemented it yet. Some hotels in
the US and Europe, such as the Landmark in London are already launching WeChat
Pay and Alipay systems.
China is a mobile-first market, which greatly contributes to the success of online
payment. Another reason is that mobile payments are powered by the strongest
technology players in China: Alipay, the main payment method belongs to Alibaba
Group. On the other hand, WeChat Pay belongs to Tencent, and the almost 1 billion
users of WeChat in China prove its popularity.

38
Data Source: Artificial Intelligence, a Game Changer in the Hospitality Industry, Mazars

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 135

 [Source: Better than Cash Alliance “The growth of Mobile Payment in China”39]

Could high-tech in hotels in China affect human resources?

In a study conducted by PwC, 21%existing jobs in China’s service sector could be
displaced over the next 20 years. However, it is estimated that there could be a 50%
growth in jobs created by AI and related technology over the next 20 years.
With AI solutions in the hotel industry in China, it is possible to cover consumer
assistance throughout the booking process, and problem solving during the guests’
stay, therefore reducing the human labor factor. Most guest requests can be handled
automatically by AI-enabled response technology in hotels, resulting in savings in
time and costs, and an increase in guests’ engagement with the brand.
In the official Marriott International website, Mr. Henry Lee, Managing Director of
Marriott International Greater China states “with technology, our hotel associates can
work more efficiently to do what they do best – delivering personalized service to our
guests.”
Therefore, in China’s robotized hotels, both basic and repetitive functions, as well as
complex problem solving for involving customer interactions, can be carried out
without the need for human contact. Still, even Alibaba’s FlyZoo Hotel, the most
robotized hotel in China, has a human guest service workers, who are free from
mechanical and tedious tasks and can focus on the human side of service.
AI in the hospitality industry in China: Artificial Intelligence meets tourism trends to
deliver the best guest experience

A new Chinese tourist profile

China’s tourism sector continues to grow. In 2018, travel and tourism contribution to
China’s GDP had amounted to 1,509 billion USD with spending mostly coming from
domestic consumers; leisure travel accounted for of 81.4% of total versus business
39
Data Source: Social Networks, e-Commerce Platforms, and the Growth of Digital Payment
Ecosystems in China: What It Means for Other Countries, Better Than Cash Alliance

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 136

travel accounting for 18.6%. Chinese consumers travel mainly for leisure and with a
motivation to reaffirm their status, vis-à-vis others by publishing their travel
experience on social networks.40
With the rise of the traveling middle class, new profiles of Chinese tourists are
defined, and the hotel industry will not stop growing. Travelers increasingly demand
standards, finer things. Thus, a new kind of traveler arises: the free independent
travelers (FIT).

The FIT travelers

Free Independent travelers are young, well-educated, and relatively affluent. The FIT
use all types of electronic devices that will allow them to travel more comfortably.
Smartphones are the FIT’s travel planner, tourist guide, means of payment, and
communication with their peers. FIT are tech-savvy consumers that drive growth for
most technology innovations and make a potential guest of high-tech hotels in China.
By using AI and intelligent devices in the hotel, valuable personal data is also
collected form the traveler. On a survey conducted by Mazars Consulting and YouGov,
some of the results imply that “Chinese travelers are indeed looking for comfort and
convenience more than other countries surveyed. Armed with this data, AI algorithms
can determine the clients’ habits, either to lure them back by offering a tailor-made
experience or to sell them additional products”.

Increasingly connected Chinese travelers

Independent travelers are willing to spend more but at the same time, are more
demanding. The new generation of Chinese travelers, especially Y generation and
millennials, are known for thoroughly planning their trips ahead of time, to find the
option that best suits their expectations. Millennials’ spending accounts for 65% of
total consumption growth, becoming a group of people with the power of reshaping
China and the world. The vast majority use social networks and travel agencies to
assess their alternatives, in addition to relying heavily on references from other
customers.
ATKearny’s consumer study on the segmentation of the Chinese tourism market
observes that 70% of travelers use online travel sites for gathering information, with
58% booking accommodation on sites such as Ctrip or Qunar. Online tour operators
rely heavily on content gathered on user experience.

40
Travel and Tourism Economic Impact 2019 World Report, World Travel and Tourism Council

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 137

 [Source: ATKearny “Source of hotel information”]

[Source: ATKearny “Channels used to book a hotel” 41]

In addition, travelers do exclusively use websites dedicated only to travel. It is
increasingly common to find travel products on China’s giant e-commerce platforms
such as Taobao, and social networks such as WeChat. Through Wechat, hotels can
create brand awareness and communicate their services. Similarly, in addition to
chat messaging, WeChat also has chatbots and mini-programs, where hotels can add
e-commerce and booking functions.

Applications of data mining technology in hospitality

Personalized services are a reality in the hotel industry in China. Travelers are looking
for tailor-made experiences, services tailored to their expectations and tastes. Some
hotel brands are using technology and social media to get as close to the consumer
as possible. The collection of personal and behavioral data during the hotel stay are
extremely useful when defining the consumer’s profile and presenting offers related
to the hotel industry or offers to buy products.
Technology giants Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent are investing millions in AI,
developing powerful databases that bring the offer closer to the consumer in an

41
Data Source: China’s Hospitality Growth Industry – Rooms for Growth, ATKearny

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 138

increasingly accurate manner. Tencent, Baidu, and Alibaba have access to an infinite
amount of information that allows data mining to define consumer demand. By
launching AI technology in hotels in China, the technology giants can easily approach
the traveler and meet his/her expectations and desires, changing the hotel industry
dynamics. Demanding travelers would spend less time looking for the perfect fit, and
almost tailored-made offers would be presented to them.

AI during the guest’s journey

Artificial intelligence technology can be introduced into almost every phase of the
traveler’s consumer experience. The match of relevant consumer data with
personalized and automated service thanks to high-tech devices in hotels in China
lead to excellent customization, which, in return, allow guest excitement and
satisfaction. Hotel companies who understand the importance of AI in hospitality in
China first would acquire a significant competitive advantage.

[Source: Roland Berger “AI applications along the guest’s customer journey”]
Companies in the hotel industry in China should embrace innovation through the
implementation of AI-enabled technology, and collaborating with the best AI
companies. Alibaba, Baidu, and Tencent, as well as Huawei, are amalgamated AI
companies, but there are also plenty of SME AI companies in China that are
developing AI technology as well. Implementing AI such as facial recognition, or
machine learning devices that power data mining is a source of competitive
advantage. The AI Smart room, for example, is undoubtedly attractive for Chinese
travelers and is laying the foundations for a new degree of modernization and
customer satisfaction. Hotel companies can also partner with AI companies in China
that work separately by basis, technology, or just application.

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 139

 BEIJING | SHANGHAI | HONGKONG

Our mission is to answer complex China

business questions through traditional
methodologies and tech tools

Contact Us Follow Us

https://www.linkedin.com/
www.daxueconsulting.com company/daxue-consulting

https://daxueconsulting.com/
[email protected] newsletter-2/

https://www.youtube.com/
+86 (21) 5386 0380 c/daxueconsulting

www.daxueconsulting.com | [email protected] 140