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As the global competition for AI talent is intensifying, a growing number universities across China have been ramping up their efforts to cultivate top AI talents and fill up a domestic talent gap, which is expected to be as large as 4 million by 2030. 

Meanwhile, students, following results of the National College Entrance Examination being released starting from Sunday, have shown their interests in pursuing AI and related undergraduate courses in top universities, the Global Times learned. 

Top Chinese universities such as Tsinghua University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Harbin Institute of Technology have reportedly established schools of AI and launched AI general curricula to enhance AI literacy among all new college students.

Starting from September, Fudan University will introduce at least 100 AI related courses in the 2024-25 academic year, aiming to transform the school a leading force in science intelligence education and talent cultivation, the university  said on its website.

Fudan's AI courses will focus on fostering independent innovation rather than solely employment prospects, according to the introduction. Students will be equipped to tackle real-world problems as courses collaborate with industries like pharmaceuticals, where AI drug design will become part of the coursework.

"Our aim is to integrate AI education into the curriculum of our school, ensuring that all students, regardless of their major, have a solid understanding of AI and proficiency in its application. This will prepare them for the demands of the modern workforce, where AI skills are becoming increasingly essential," Chen Yan, executive vice dean of the Graduate School of Fudan University was quoted as saying in a recent yicai.com report. 

In April, Tsinghua University established a new College of AI dedicated to building a platform base to gather and cultivate top talents. Similarly, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Fudan University have also launched initiatives to cultivate interdisciplinary AI talents through innovative programs and research. 

Andrew Chi-Chih Yao, dean of the Tsinghua College of AI, said in a recent interview with the Global Times that he would lead his team in actively exploring innovate models for talent development and advance the field of computer science and foster interdisciplinary innovation.

According to a report by consultancy McKinsey & Company, by 2030, the demand in China for individuals skilled in building AI products will grow sixfold from current levels (from 1 million people to 6 million) as companies race to unlock the more than $1 trillion (7.26 trillion yuan) in potential value of AI within the Chinese economy.

However, local and overseas universities and existing top-tier talent are estimated to supply only about one-third of the AI talents needed by 2030, resulting in a shortage of 4 million people for AI roles, the report said.

To address the talent crunch, experts have proposed establishing an industry-education integration training bases nationwide, with the aim to foster a collaborative approach between educational institutions and business sectors to cultivate AI professionals. 

The demand for professional talents who are proficient in both AI and specialized domains, such as autonomous driving, is so high that the annual salary for such experts can reach up to two million yuan, Liu Gang, chief economist at the Chinese Institute of New Generation AI Development Strategies, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the US tech war against China has put AI technology at the forefront, with Chinese related industries a key target in US' reckless actions to maintain its dominance in this field, which also drives up the demand for more AI talents to achieve technological self-sufficiency. Some experts also cited Microsoft's relocation decision as a proof in the international competition for AI talent.

According to a South China Morning Post report on May 16, Microsoft is asking employees in China to move to several designated locations, such as the US, Australia and Ireland. The decision follows a move last year to relocate some of its top AI researchers from China to a new research lab in Vancouver, Canada, the Financial Times reported.