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Editor's Note: 

In recent years, remarkable progress has been made in building the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) in South China. What achievements have been attained in urban development, technological innovation and industrial clusters during the development of the GBA? The Global Times invited leading figures from various sectors to share their views on the competitiveness of the GBA.

Guo Yike Photo: Courtesy of Guo Yike

The recent suspension by American company OpenAI of its application programming interface access to users from China and other areas has caused concerns about the accessibility of cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) models. 

Such hurdles will likely force Chinese companies to reduce reliance on OpenAI's language models and switch to domestic models. 

When conducting scientific and technological research, it is important to avoid taking a shortcut and instead focus on following our own path, deepening our knowledge to make our own contributions in fundamental innovation, and not being swayed by external influences.

One of the major challenges in the field of AI in China is the lack of innovation, particularly in fundamental scientific research. By fostering an environment that encourages original thinking, China can make significant strides in the global AI arena, carving out its unique contributions to the revolutionary technology.

The advancement of AI is not a linear process but a broad spectrum of development across multiple domains. While some are trying to make comparisons between the US and China on AI capabilities, it is more productive to focus on the needs of the people, the society, the nation and humanity at large. In this sense, China should prioritize and complete its tasks more efficiently.

Being subject to external restrictions can sometimes serve as a catalyst for Chinese companies to explore new ideas and think more creatively. Therefore, it may not necessarily be a bad thing.

Industry players and research institutions should prioritize developing innovative algorithms, conducting thorough research, and generating our own unique ideas and solutions to contribute to the state-of-the-art of AI.

China may not lead in terms of computing power, but it is certainly one of the best. The country is a formidable contender, with significant resource allocation and adaptation capabilities. Both Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland have some way to go in bridging the gap in innovation capabilities with the Silicon Valley, especially in algorithm development. 

The achievements in algorithm research are actually directly related to our country's innovation capabilities. The ability to innovate, the research environment, and the ecosystem - this is what we really need to catch up on, and this is the most difficult part.

The key to achieving generative AI lies in building a strong foundation with stable, efficient and mature large language models. The model's foundations must be continuously improved and updated through innovation and iteration. It is important to focus on our own technology development. We should not be concerned with how others are approaching the same challenges, but rather stay committed to our own path of research and advancement.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of AI, the combination of and concentration on basic research, original innovation and talent cultivation are crucial for developing a robust and innovative AI landscape in China. 

Hong Kong's strength in talent, worldwide connections and innovation ecosystem are key factors driving AI advancement and industrial development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and beyond. The city's edge is particularly evident in its ability to attract top talent and foster a globalized environment conducive to innovation and creativity, rather than simply following the latest foreign fads. 

This unique environment encourages originality and ingenuity, empowering individuals to think outside the box and forge their own paths to achievement.

China's AI sector is at a critical juncture where foundational innovation is paramount. The country has reached significant milestones, with Hong Kong playing a crucial role in the success of companies like SenseTime, a major Chinese AI company.

The author is the provost of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. bizopinion@globaltimes.com.cn