Shenzhen has entered the "Two Sessions" period, with the 5th session of the 7th Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) kicking off on February 24.

At the registration venue on February 23, "Kuavo," a humanoid robot from Shenzhen's high-tech enterprise Leju (Shenzhen) Robotics Technology Co., Ltd., made an appearance as a "special reporter assistant", interviewing Shenzhen CPPCC members on-site with a microphone. This marked the first time a robot reporter assistant has conducted interviews at a plenary session of the Shenzhen CPPCC. "As the first member interviewed by a robot reporter at this plenary session, I feel honored and amused. My focus happens to be on artificial intelligence (AI) and talent development," said Shang Jianfeng, a member of the Shenzhen CPPCC.

(Photo: Wang Hening)

AI and robotics emerged as hot topics among the CPPCC members. Meng Jianmin, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, suggested that the government should develop more favorable, flexible, and proactive industrial and talent policies to promote the growth of AI high-tech industries. He also emphasized the need to integrate and develop ecosystems and clusters to form a cohesive AI industry circle, positioning Shenzhen as a strong contender in international competition.

CPPCC member Yang Haobo proposed accelerating the integration of AI and manufacturing. She suggested strengthening policy guidance to encourage enterprises to focus on core technologies such as machine tools, industrial AI, robotics, and industrial software, and to gather resources for breakthroughs in these areas.

Regarding "AI + education", CPPCC member Huang Dinglong recommended that educational departments promote the construction of multi-dimensional AI education scenarios. Schools should explore AI applications in teaching, management, and campus life, and also promote the "Super Teacher" project to enhance teachers' proficiency in using AI tools. This initiative aims to deepen the integration and innovative practice of AI in education.

CPPCC member Zhang Wei proposed establishing a special fund for AI industry development in Shenzhen. He suggested providing subsidies to enterprises engaged in core technology research and application demonstrations and implementing a "Breakthrough Plan for AI Basic Research." This plan would involve collaborative efforts with research institutions such as the Pengcheng Laboratory, Shenzhen University, and Southern University of Science and Technology, focusing on cutting-edge fields like Large AI Models, neuromorphic chips, and quantum computing.

The debut of the "robot reporter assistant" and the focus on AI highlight Shenzhen's commitment to innovation and its drive to become a global leader in AI and robotics.