Chinese scientist Zhu Songchun has unveiled the world's first AI child, known as "Little Girl" or Tong Tong. 

The announcement took place at a showcase in Beijing, showcasing Tong Tong's unprecedented ability to autonomously assign tasks, learn, and interact with her environment (via the South China Morning Post).

Tong Tong: AI Marvel

Tong Tong, the virtual AI entity, was unveiled at the Frontiers of General Artificial Intelligence Technology Exhibition in Beijing by the Beijing Institute for General Artificial Intelligence (BIGAI). 

Unlike conventional AI models, Tong Tong possesses a remarkable degree of autonomy, allowing her to independently complete tasks, from tidying rooms to cleaning up spills. 

Visitors at the exhibition witnessed her ability to interpret human intentions as she demonstrated problem-solving skills, such as fixing a crooked picture frame and finding a stool to reach high places.

Award-Winning Scientist

The mastermind behind this groundbreaking creation is Zhu Songchun, a world-renowned Chinese scientist who left his professorship at UCLA in 2020 to establish BIGAI in China. 

With a background in general artificial intelligence, computer vision, and autonomous robots, Zhu's work has now culminated in the development of Tong Tong, a virtual AI entity with emotions and the ability to discern right from wrong. 

AI Testing Platform

At the heart of this revelation lies the Tong Test, a comprehensive AI testing platform designed by Zhu's team. Published in the journal Engineering hosted by the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the Tong Test assesses AI across five dimensions: vision, language, cognition, motion, and learning. 

With nearly 100 specialized tasks and over 50 general tasks, this test provides a complete regime for evaluating the development of general artificial intelligence. Zhu emphasized the need for AI to integrate seamlessly into human environments, guided by practical abilities and values.

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In an exclusive statement from SCMP, Zhu explained, "For general AI to integrate seamlessly into human environments, it must learn and execute tasks in complex settings, driven by values and an understanding of causality. This is why we proposed the Tong Test, a new direction for testing general AI, focusing on practical abilities and values." 

The Tong Test represents a pivotal step in ensuring that general AI evolves effectively and safely, serving human society in a manner that aligns with our values and needs.

The journey towards unveiling Tong Tong and the Tong Test was challenging. Zhu Songchun, having spent 28 years studying and working in the United States, left his established position to pioneer AI advancements in China. 

His commitment to advancing general artificial intelligence is evident in the creation of Tong Tong and the development of the Tong Test, both of which hold promises for the future of AI integration.

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