Interview with Academician Zhou Zhihua on Cultivating Innovative Talent for the AI Era

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a core force driving technological revolution and industrial transformation, rapidly integrating into various fields of economic and social development. The 14th Five-Year Plan suggests the comprehensive implementation of the “AI+” initiative, and this year’s government work report further emphasizes the deepening and expansion of this initiative, providing direction for the development of AI in China. What kind of talent is needed in the AI era? How can we cultivate such talent? Recently, we interviewed Academician Zhou Zhihua, Vice President of Nanjing University and a leading expert in the field, to hear his profound insights and thoughts.

How Should We Face the AI Era?

Reporter: Academician Zhou, hello! AI is one of the hottest topics today. As a seasoned expert in this field, what is your perspective on this trend?

Zhou Zhihua: Society is concerned about AI from various angles, discussing development paths, existing issues, and preventive measures, which is a hallmark of the arrival of a technology-driven era. The intensity of AI discussions during this year’s Two Sessions reflects that AI has begun to permeate all aspects of Chinese economic and social life. The steam engine technology revolution liberated humanity from heavy physical labor, while the AI technology revolution will free us from repetitive intellectual labor. Thus, AI will eventually enter everyone’s life, with the only difference being the depth of integration and the timing.

Reporter: How should ordinary people respond to the AI trend?

Zhou Zhihua: AI will enter various aspects of our lives, so everyone should strive to understand and embrace it, without fear or blind worship. People should learn a certain degree of AI knowledge but find their own positioning. If one wants to study how to improve AI itself, a solid mathematical foundation and deep knowledge in computer science are necessary. If the goal is merely to understand how to use AI tools, one can learn quickly. Most people only need to know what AI is, what it can do, and how it will change their lives, which can be achieved through general education. It’s essential to clearly identify the knowledge one needs and find suitable learning pathways.

At the same time, we must understand that AI development is a gradual process. The capabilities we see today are the result of continuous accumulation and breakthroughs over the past 70 years. Each step forward builds on the foundations laid by predecessors; there is no sudden leap from “0 to 1,” but rather a slow progression from 0.1, 0.2, and so on. When it comes to AI, we should remember eight words: “allow mistakes, serve as assistance.” If the application scenario tolerates errors, such as writing online novels, AI’s mistakes may lead to unexpected surprises. However, for tasks requiring high reliability and accuracy, AI can only serve as an auxiliary tool, with humans needing to make the final checks.

Opportunities for Young Entrepreneurs in the AI Era

Reporter: What opportunities exist for young entrepreneurs in the AI era?

Zhou Zhihua: AI technology is giving rise to a new type of economic organization—OPC (One Person Company). I believe OPC is a crucial entry point for AI to promote development across various industries. The three elements of AI application are computing power, data, and algorithms. Many local governments and key enterprises have established substantial computing infrastructure that entrepreneurs can easily access. Data comes from diverse application scenarios, each with different needs. According to the theorem of “there’s no free lunch” in the field of AI algorithms, general large models can solve many common problems, but some specific scenarios require customized technology, which presents opportunities for OPCs. Creative young people who can keenly identify pain points in specific scenarios and master certain customized algorithm techniques can create comprehensive solutions with just one or two people, leveraging existing computing power and tools.

Reporter: What is the key to success for young entrepreneurs in OPC innovation?

Zhou Zhihua: The key to OPC innovation and entrepreneurship is to help aspiring young entrepreneurs understand what today’s AI technology can do. They need to grasp the application boundaries and value of current AI technology, clarifying what practical problems it can solve and in which scenarios it can be implemented.

Nanjing University has made some preliminary explorations in this regard. In 2024, we will launch the “Graduate AI+ Innovation Capability Enhancement Action Plan,” which includes four major components. The “AI+ Innovation and Entrepreneurship” section features the “AI+ Innovation and Entrepreneurship Class,” which gathers students with entrepreneurial ideas and invites executives from leading companies and investors to teach. Professional teams guide students in refining their project proposals and plans. Last year, we expected to enroll 300 students, but over 500 participated, with many students attending voluntarily. By the end of the course, 35 projects were particularly distinctive, attracting interest from various local parks for collaboration. Surprisingly, many outstanding projects emerged from collaborations between liberal arts and science students—liberal arts students bring creativity, while science students offer rigorous thinking and execution skills, leading to unexpected synergies. Even if the students in the entrepreneurship class do not pursue entrepreneurship in the future, they will learn how to analyze real business pain points, determine the need for customized solutions, and find customized algorithms, thereby empowering their future careers with AI.

Reforming Education Models to Cultivate Innovative Talent for the Intelligent Era

Reporter: Nanjing University is the first C9 university to establish an AI college and has pioneered the introduction of core general education courses in AI. How is the university specifically laying out its talent cultivation in AI?

Zhou Zhihua: The key to AI development lies in talent. In 2018, Nanjing University established the AI College. At that time, there was no mature system for cultivating AI professionals at the undergraduate level globally; it was essentially an “unmanned zone,” requiring us to explore everything from scratch. We first clarified the core needs for talent cultivation—AI demands a high level of comprehensive quality from its professionals, requiring a solid mathematical foundation, deep computational and programming skills, and comprehensive knowledge of AI. Therefore, we constructed a “three-in-one” curriculum system: foundational mathematics courses, supporting computer courses, and core AI professional courses.

In 2024, the undergraduate college will introduce a “1+X+Y” core curriculum system for all new undergraduates: one required core AI general course, X AI literacy courses, and Y frontier expansion courses that deeply integrate various disciplines with AI. We hope to comprehensively enhance students’ AI literacy and capabilities, cultivating top innovative talent for the intelligent era.

Reporter: Currently, there is a significant shortage of AI talent in China. What suggestions do you have for cultivating talent in this field?

Zhou Zhihua: Indeed, there is a considerable gap in AI talent, and we need to increase our cultivation efforts. I proposed suggestions during this year’s national Two Sessions: to reform the training model and build a team of interdisciplinary talent. We should construct a “AI-empowered scientific research” interdisciplinary innovative talent cultivation system from the ground up, supporting high-level research universities to pilot the establishment of “PhD + Master’s” dual-degree programs, systematically training “bilingual” scientists who are well-versed in both domain knowledge and cutting-edge AI technology. Additionally, we should establish “interdisciplinary special zones” in degree acquisition, title promotion, and performance evaluation to address the dilemma faced by interdisciplinary talent in traditional evaluation systems.

Furthermore, we must recognize that cultivating AI talent is not something that can be achieved overnight. The most valuable aspect of AI education is the faculty. As we often say, “The greatness of a university lies not in its buildings but in its masters.” Without a high-level faculty team, it is challenging to cultivate talent that truly meets industry demands. Building a high-level faculty team is not easy; it requires long-term accumulation and cannot be rushed.