[Integrated Development of Culture and Technology] Academician Chen Xiaohong, Secretary of CPC HUTB Committee, Delivers Keynote Speech at 9th Training

2024-05-29

Artificial intelligence (AI) drives development, and culture and technology shape the future. On the afternoon of May 28, the university held its 2024 "Integrated Development of Culture and Technology"theme education season event, along with the 9th Training Session of "Lectures for Cadres", at the Xiangjiang Lecture Hall in Xiangjiang Building. Chen Xiaohong, Secretary of the CPC HUTB Committee, Director of Xiangjiang Laboratory, and academician of the CAE, delivered the keynote speech. The training session was attended by over 2,200 participants, including all Chief Leaders, including Liao Xiangyue, Deputy Secretary of the CPC HUTB Committee and President of HUTB, CPC HUTB Committee members, cadres at or above the deputy section level, HUTB's party secretaries, department heads, teaching and research section heads, and faculty and student representatives. The live broadcast sub-venues were set up in the Zhizhi Lecture Hall in Xiangjiang Building, the Yingcai Lecture Hall in the Library, as well as in classrooms in Rixin Building in the south campus, and the Multifunctional Lecture Hall in the Library and the Lecture Hall in Zhuiguang Building on the north campus. The lecture was hosted by President Liao Xiangyue.

Academician Chen Xiaohong, focusing on the forefront of technology and current development trends, thoroughly explained the era’s theme of "'AI+' Empowering New-Quality Productive Forces and Industrial Innovation Development" from four aspects: the situation and challenges of technological innovation in the digital economy era, advancements and trends in AI technology, practical applications of AI in empowering industrial innovation, and building a high ground for the integrated development of culture and technology. She encouraged the university’s Party members, cadres, and faculty and students to ride the wave of the digital economy, deeply understand the empowering role of new-generation information technology, enhance innovation awareness, and improve innovation capabilities.

Academician Chen Xiaohong analyzed the situation and challenges of technological innovation in the digital economy era. She comprehensively analyzed the current global technology competition and China's technological development, emphasizing the need to develop new quality productive forces according to local conditions, seize future industrial development high grounds, effectively utilize new-generation information technologies, and make efforts to cultivate technology innovation talents. She stated that talent development in the digital economy era should transition from traditional thinking models to digital intelligence models, from specialized disciplines to interdisciplinary integration, from theoretical research to innovation practice, from traditional evaluation standards to comprehensive evaluation standards, and from existing models to a deep integration of science, culture and art. The goal is to empower interdisciplinary innovation and development through "AI+" and promote innovative practices in talent cultivation at the university.

Regarding the development and frontier trends of AI technology, Academician Chen Xiaohong pointed out that AI has entered an era of big data, large models, and high computing power. New-generation AI, generative AI, and AI pre-trained large models have become core engines for the development of the digital economy. Advanced technologies such as computing-network integration, quantum computing, brain-inspired intelligence, and embodied AI will shape the future of AI. She indicated that the next generation of AI will drive the transition from weak AI to strong AI and general AI, enabling innovative development of new quality productive forces.

Academician Chen Xiaohong introduced the development of high-level technology innovation platforms such as the Xiangjiang Laboratory, the National Center for Basic Science project, the State Key Laboratory (Cultivation) Base of Data Intelligence and Smart Society, and the Changsha Social Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence. She showcased a series of outstanding achievements by these platforms and research teams in areas including innovative smart social governance models, enhancing manufacturing quality and efficiency, empowering the coordinated management of resource, energy and environment, reshaping healthcare service system, and promoting digital industry innovation and development.

Regarding how the university can create a high ground for the integrated development of culture and technology, Academician Chen Xiaohong emphasized the need to highlight distinctive integration features, adhering to the educational philosophy of integrating the development of "New engineering courses+ new business courses+ new liberal arts courses" and science. She advocated for the promoting the fusion of technology, culture, and arts, showcasing a "digital intelligence-driven, interdisciplinary integration" educational characteristic. She also called for fostering a good environment for promoting the integrated development of culture and technology on campus, making significant contributions to the integration of culture and technology, and conducting the 2024 "Integrated Development of Culture and Technology" theme educational season, as well as hosting the "Towards 2035: Integrating Creativity for the Future" Science and Technology Culture Expo and the 2nd Science and Technology Festival. She hopes that all faculty and students will maintain enthusiasm, uphold integrity, grow steadily, and work together to achieve high-quality, connotative development for the university.

Finally, all faculty and students watched videos of various activities organized by the university, including "I Play the Victory Song for the Motherland," "Yellow River Cantata," "Light of Liuyang River," "Swan Lake," "Joyful HUTB," and "Rhythmic HUTB: Running Towards the Future." These videos allowed everyone to experience the great charm of culture, art, and sports, and inspired a strong motivation to strive and advance.

Academician Chen Xiaohong's lecture was forward-looking, innovative in thought, rich in content, and presented in an accessible manner. She not only shared cutting-edge knowledge, technologies, and the latest achievements from high-level science and technology innovation platforms such as the Xiangjiang Laboratory but also systematically planned new ideas, directions, and measures for the university's development. The lecture was both inspiring and morale-boosting, resonating with applause from the audience throughout the event. Faculty and students have expressed their commitment to deeply learning and mastering new knowledge and technologies. They are enthusiastic about actively participating in the university's 2024 "Integrated Development of Culture and Technology" theme education season, and are determined to help drive the university towards new, leapfrog development. (Written by Zhang Gaoyang and photo by Tu Hua and Jiang Botao)