US delegation explores Wuhan's growing tech sector

Representatives from China and the United States exchanged views on robotics and artificial intelligence during a people-to-people exchange event in Wuhan, Hubei province.

Jeffrey Greene, a veteran pilot and chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, led a delegation of about 100 people, including descendants of Flying Tigers veterans, as well as teachers and students from Flying Tigers Friendship Schools, on a five-day visit to Wuhan, which concluded on Sunday, for a series of cultural and technological activities.

On Thursday, the delegation visited the Hubei Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, where members watched humanoid robots dance, write calligraphy, make coffee, pour tea, play chess and engage in conversations.

"I saw videos on Instagram of robots doing little dances, but then they would fall over. These robots can hop on one leg and move all around. They are totally stable — super cool," said Haley Rasilla, a student in the delegation. "It exceeds my expectations — way more futuristic than anything I've ever seen in America. It's crazy."

Erik Lutz, a councilman in the city of Pico Rivera, California, and a representative of the foundation, said he was impressed by robots designed for medical care, cleaning and construction. "We're seeing the future," he said. "The two most powerful countries working in cooperation will provide for the longevity of our civilization."

The innovation center includes a data acquisition site, a simulation training ground, industrial and commercial application zones, an interactive intelligent application zone, and an integrated humanoid robot application zone.

At a roundtable forum themed "Innovation for Good, Intelligence to Future" held at Wuhan University of Technology on Friday, students from the two countries discussed opportunities and challenges facing college students amid the AI revolution, focusing on technology ethics and industry-university-research collaboration.

Matthew Garrett Embree, who recently graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz, with a degree in computer science, said overreliance on AI is concerning.

"Many of the students in my classes eventually stopped learning how to program and would just write prompts instead," he said. "AI is a powerful tool, but it's still important to learn the basics and understand the fundamentals of whatever topic you're studying. I think this applies across all fields."

David Cornelis Howe, who graduated from Alfred University in New York with a degree in mechanical engineering, said he used AI extensively during his studies, even when large language models were still in the early stages of development.

"I noticed they made a lot of mistakes early on, so I didn't really trust them at first," he said. "But as I went through school, I realized the technology was improving very quickly."

He said AI is most valuable when it helps users understand concepts or guides them through a process rather than simply providing answers.

"I think it's very important that we don't let AI take away our critical thinking skills and our ability to make decisions for ourselves," he added.

During the visit, the delegation also rode Wuhan's suspended monorail, known as the "sky train", the first of its kind in China. Unlike conventional monorails, the trains hang beneath elevated steel tracks, showcasing the country's advances in rail transit technology.

The visitors also learned about Wuhan's modernization at the Hankow Customs Museum, watched traditional opera performances and explored the region's history at the Hubei Provincial Museum and Yellow Crane Tower.

Contact the writers at chenmeiling@chinadaily.com.cn