Chen Tianyu says, "While I take a nap, the world changes." His world is certainly changing. This 28-year-old keeps himself informed about the latest technologies by spending his free time in factories moving towards automation. This way, he knows what to prioritize when teaching artificial intelligence and robotics in class.
Training the Next Generation
In front of him, about 30 students are busy learning to code. One of them, as his eyes dart between the screen and the robot, types quickly: "The idea is to grab that cylindrical piece and move it over there." A line of industrial robots waits to be programmed, and in another part of the class, students are working on developing medical robotic tools. Chen, while guiding them, says, "If the world of artificial intelligence and robotics doesn’t need you, you will undoubtedly be left behind in the competition."
Read more: Conti; Unveiling the Secrets of One of the Most Notorious Hacking Groups in the World
For those present in this room, this is a step - or better yet, a leap - towards a future that China is carefully building: Xi Jinping's $20 billion plan to place his country at the forefront of innovation and compete directly with the United States.
Automation and Workforce Challenges
Across the country, more than two million robots work in China's factories, and their numbers are increasing at a remarkable pace. This is a commitment that will undoubtedly change the world. However, what is less clear is the impact of such widespread automation on China's human workforce. China is already exporting its robots worldwide, and more than half of the world's industrial robots are manufactured in this country.
In a factory in Chengdu, the old and new generations work side by side. About 30 middle-aged men and women are engaged in screwing and assembling products while robotic arms perform various industrial tasks. Pang Kai, one of the young engineers, is trying to decode the code for a prototype of a new robot. He says, "We want our new robot to be human-like. We hope it can think for itself."
Declining population and an aging workforce are another reason why Beijing is urgently seeking a revolution in its factories. However, the speed of this transition could lead to layoffs and a catastrophic blow to millions of workers. Kao Li, vice president of the electric vehicle company 'Leap Motors', says that while machines need maintenance, humans still play an important role on the production line.
Read more: Samsung has Transformed the User Experience of Phones with New Innovations · Dr. Mohammad Anbari and Mapping 125 Million Neural Connections in the Fruit Fly Brain
