(Yicai Global) July 28 -- The ultimate key to the development of large language models both in China and overseas is breakthroughs in basic science, according to the executive vice director of Tsinghua University’s Institute for Artificial Intelligence.

When OpenAI’s ChatGPT was first launched, it widened the gap between China’s AI development and the rest of the world’s, Sun Maosong told Yicai Global. Despite the gap was somewhat narrowed after the chase over the past six months, there has not yet been any qualitative change, he noted.

Basic science is what matters for China to catch up with the advanced overseas AI development, Sun believes. The issue with LLMs is that it is still unclear how ChatGPT operates, he added, noting that even OpenAI’s Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman admitted he does not know that.

The limitations of existing LLMs will likely be overcome to facilitate the establishment of the theories and models of the next generation of AI, as long as the rules regarding LLMs and the mechanism behind ChatGPT are figured out, Sun pointed out.

China’s homegrown LLMs should focus more on vertical applications in specific sectors by improving the basic capabilities of these models, Sun suggested.

In addition to basic science, Sun also emphasized the significance of talent. “Competition in the forefront of the AI sector is the competition for talent,” Sun said.

The global ranking of China’s 10 AI-related indexes climbed last year, mostly those in the fields of talent, education, patent output, and institutional innovation, according to the latest report of the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China. Moreover, the number of indexes for which China ranked top five worldwide rose to 18 last year from 15 the year before, with the AI innovation index remaining the second-highest for the third consecutive year.

However, China still needs to improve the construction of AI-related basic resources, the report noted, adding that there is still a gap between China’s overall level of AI development and that of the United States.

Editors: Shi Yi, Futura Costaglione