"AI has built a solid foundation for the intelligent system. Otherwise, relying on big data alone is like building on a foundation of soil, which is dangerous and impossible," said Wang Feiyue, director of the state key laboratory for management and control of complex systems at the Institute of Automation under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, adding while AI is intended to reduce the use of manpower, it will result in more employment.

Wang joined speakers at the 14th Vision China event organized by China Daily and the Information Office of Tianjin Municipal People's Government with the theme of "Intelligence New Era: Innovation, Energization and Ecology" broadcast online to a global audience on Tuesday night.

With the growth of big data, cloud computing and other cutting-edge technologies, AI is gradually becoming a key driving force of economic growth

In 2017, the State Council issued a plan that set benchmarks for China's AI sector, with the value of core AI industries predicted to exceed 1 trillion yuan and make the country a global leader in AI innovation by 2030.