Telecom firms strut latest LLM stuff

At a bustling exhibition center in Fuzhou, Fujian province, visitors flock to a captivating demonstration by China Unicom. Here, tea enthusiasts can customize their tea orders via a tablet, specifying the type, quantity and packaging. Within minutes, robotic arms precisely select, seal, engrave and deliver the tea to a storage unit — an entirely automated process. This human-free production line exemplifies the remarkable advancements in artificial intelligence and automation.

By leveraging extensive data analysis and advanced AI large language models, companies can automate workflows, thus reducing labor costs and enhancing production efficiency, said an employee of China Unicom at the expo.

This innovation is part of the telecom carrier's in-house LLM, which is roughly translated as Yuanjing, designed to empower various sectors like clothing, automaking and equipment manufacturing with robust AI capabilities.

This initiative reflects a broader trend among China's top telecom operators — China Unicom, China Mobile and China Telecom — which are aggressively investing in AI. As AI technology rapidly evolves, these giants are enhancing their capabilities in computing power, data and applications, thereby fueling a new wave of industrial modernization, triggering innovation in areas such as 5G, industrial internet and smart manufacturing.

For instance, China Unicom's "AI plus" strategy aims to build LLMs across more than 10 industries — such as equipment manufacturing and light textiles — to boost efficiency and quality. Additionally, they focus on strengthening internal security to safeguard this new industrial landscape.

China Mobile has introduced its Jiutian AI model, collaborating with government agencies and enterprises to co-develop over 20 industry-specific AI models. These models span a wide range of applications including network management, customer service, smart home, public services, transportation, healthcare and industrial sectors.

In another engaging showcase, a dual-armed six-axis robot prepares and serves coffee, even cleaning the cup afterward — a testament to the fusion of networking, computing power and AI. This robot integrates the latest technologies in network, computing and AI. Based on data accumulation and intelligent algorithms, it has developed multimodal capabilities to meet needs in fields such as entertainment, household chores and family care, China Mobile said.

The surge in digital innovation is underpinned by robust data infrastructure. According to a report released by the National Data Bureau, China's data production reached 32.85 zettabytes (1 ZB equals approximately 1 trillion gigabytes) in 2023, a 22.44 percent year-on-year increase.

To harness the full potential of these data elements, the NDB, along with other departments, launched the "Data Elements plus" three-year action plan (2024-26). The first batch of 20 typical application cases spans industries like industrial manufacturing, modern agriculture, trade circulation and transportation, showcasing best practices in data utilization.

However, the immense data and rich scenario advantages in China still need further exploitation. The National Data Resources Survey Team's latest report highlighted challenges such as the high total data volume but insufficient effective supply, the need for proactive planning of computing power, and the improvement of diverse data circulation models.

Multiple departments have expressed their commitment to deepening reform of market-based allocation of data elements, optimizing digital infrastructure and unlocking the value of data elements.

Liu Liehong, head of the NDB, emphasized the need for innovation in data infrastructure. He highlighted efforts to promote data resource property rights, circulation, transaction, benefit distribution and security governance. The goal is to build a dynamic, categorized, and hierarchical data resource management system that facilitates data development, openness and efficient flow.

Wang Jiangping, deputy minister of industry and information technology, outlined plans to accelerate the deployment of 5G and gigabit optical networks, advance 6G research and expand intelligent computing infrastructure. This includes enhancing interconnectivity, promoting high-quality development of the industrial internet, and integrating AI and data elements to empower new industrialization.

Jian Qin, general manager of China Unicom, said the company focuses on building a digital foundation of computing and networking, with intelligent data usage and comprehensive security, to support economic and social transformation.

In recent years, China Unicom has significantly improved its network capabilities, supporting low-latency industrial control applications with extensive 5G coverage and deepening 5G private network applications.

By upgrading intelligent computing supply, it ensures reliable computing power for new industrialization. The company's intelligent computing layout and its advanced computing scheduling platform offer diverse computing resources, driving forward intelligent applications that inject innovation into industrialization, Jian said.

China Unicom's Yuanjing LLM, for instance, is notable for being industry-specific, customizable and secure. Although AI model implementation in industrial fields is still exploratory, China Unicom fosters an open, collaborative innovation ecosystem, providing computing power and algorithms while partners contribute data and scenarios.

This cooperative approach has led to significant advancements across 10 sectors, including clothing, automotive, equipment manufacturing, warehousing, logistics, power, steel, mining, light textiles, ports and chemicals, experts said.