Anhui takes big steps in enhancing AI prowess

Cheng Minggui, a retired State-owned enterprise worker from Huangshan, Anhui province, is showcasing to the family his "friend", who accompanied him and his wife during their five-nation trip across Europe this Spring Festival.

Though the couple in their late 50s do not speak English, they managed to find hotels, ask for directions, buy food and amuse themselves in foreign countries, all thanks to their "friend".

However, their "friend" is not a person but a translator developed by a local voice recognition company iFlytek Co Ltd, which can support real-time translation between Chinese and over 50 languages.