China's Robotics Dream Began in 1972
Jiang Xinsong, often called China's "father of robotics," pioneered early industrial automation in the country, developing China's first computer-guided vehicle in 1993. His work at the Shenyang Institute of Automation, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was crucial after US export controls cut off access to foreign technology. Jiang's vision of "artificial intelligence" focused on hardware and factory applications, predating the current deep-learning era and influencing China's early AI policy. AI
IMPACT Provides historical context for China's AI development, highlighting early hardware-focused approaches.