(Yicai Global) Sept. 17 -- Tencent Holdings founder Pony Ma, whose company is one of those leading the field in machine learning, has highlighted the need for a change in traditional security methods to combat risks related to the greater use of artificial intelligence in a keynote speech delivered at a major conference today.

Despite the potential to unlock new technologies and tools, AI will also bring unprecedented challenges, Ma said at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference 2018, which is being held in Shanghai from today until Sept. 19. AI technology has been used in China to spread digital viruses in a more discreet way and can even be used to conduct online fraud in a more targeted manner, he added.

The annual forum brings together top figures in AI from around the world to discuss and exchange ideas. This year's guest list also includes Alibaba's Jack Ma, Turing Prize-winning Indian-American computer scientist Raj Reddy and Tang Xiao'ou, the co-founder of the world's most valuable AI unicorn SenseTime. The conference also serves as a platform to showcase the latest advances in the sector covering transport, finance, retail, healthcare, smart manufacturing, education and services.

Companies and countries alike cannot explore the AI sector blindly, Pony Ma said, adding that a new worldwide industrial chain is forming. "Global cooperation in technical research and development, applications, software, hardware and services is necessary to bolster development," he said. Ma expects the advanced technological breakthroughs seen in the US and the diversified application scenarios established in China to complement each other in the long-run.

AI technology is moving the world toward a key era of social network services, Ma believes. Tencent aims to connect its more than one billion monthly active WeChat users with things, other people and services. The Shenzhen-based company could create tens of billions or hundreds of billions of connection nodes, he said, adding that the key to this is AI.

Tencent recently set up its East China headquarters in Shanghai and aims to work with local AI players to further the firm's development in the sector, Ma added.

Editor: William Clegg