The top ten scientific and technological terms of 2023 are released: large language models and brain-computer interfaces are listed

Source: IT House

IT Home reported on December 26 that, according to Guangming Daily, the Affairs Center of the National Committee for the Examination and Approval of Scientific and Technological Terms, together with the National Language Resources Monitoring and Research Print Media Center, Midu Micro Hotspot Research Institute, Wanfang Data, Baidu Encyclopedia, Baidu Index, China Science and Technology Terminology Magazine and many other institutions jointly released the "Top Ten Scientific and Technological Terms in 2023".

Large language models

Generative AI

Quantum computing

Brain-computer interfaces

Data elements

Smart Cities

Carbon footprint

Flexible manufacturing

Regeneration

Controlled nuclear fusion

IT Home Attached Interpretation:

Large language models

A large language model is a deep learning Xi model trained on massive text data. It is not only capable of generating natural language text, but also deeply understanding the meaning of the text and handling various natural language tasks such as text summarization, question answering, translation, etc. In 2023, large language models and their applications in the field of artificial intelligence have become a hot topic of global scientific and technological research, and their growth in scale is particularly remarkable, with the number of parameters jumping from the initial billion to one trillion today. The increase in the number of parameters allows the model to capture the subtleties of human language more finely and understand the complexity of human language more deeply. In the past year, large language models have improved significantly in many aspects, such as absorbing new knowledge, decomposing complex tasks, and aligning images and texts. As the technology continues to mature, it will continue to expand its application scope, provide more intelligent and personalized services for human beings, and further improve people's lives and production methods.

Generative AI

Generative AI is an AI technology that uses complex algorithms, models, and rules to learn Xi from large-scale datasets to create new original content. This technology is capable of creating multiple types of content, including text, images, sound, video, and code, beyond the data processing and analysis capabilities of traditional software. In late 2022, OpenAI launched ChatGPT, marking significant progress in the field of text generation for this technology, and 2023 has been called a breakthrough year for generative AI. This technology has gradually developed rapidly from single language generation to multimodal and embodied technology. When it comes to image generation, generative systems have made significant progress in interpreting hints and generating realistic outputs. At the same time, video and audio generation technologies are also developing rapidly, which provides new avenues for virtual reality and the metaverse to be realized. Generative AI technology has a wide range of application prospects in various industries and fields.

Quantum computing

Different from classical computing, quantum computing follows the laws of quantum mechanics, and it is a new computing mode that can break through the bottleneck of classical computing power. A quantum computer, as a device that performs quantum computing tasks, uses qubits as the basic unit of computing. In quantum computing, different states of qubits can be stored and processed simultaneously based on the principle of quantum superposition. Quantum computing offers new possibilities for solving complex problems that are difficult for some classical computers to handle, and is expected to be widely used in code breaking, material design, and artificial intelligence. The development of quantum computers is the key to the realization of quantum computing, including natural qubit routes such as ions, neutral atoms, and photons, as well as artificial qubit routes such as superconducting Josephson junctions and quantum dots. Over the past few years, these systems have made tremendous progress and have demonstrated quantum superiority in some specific sampling problems. In 2023, the continent has made significant progress in both the optical system ("Chapter 9") and the superconducting system ("Zu Chong").

Brain-computer interfaces

Brain-computer interface technology is a transformative human-computer interaction technology. Its mechanism of action is to bypass peripheral nerves and muscles, and establish new communication and control channels directly between the brain and external devices. It enables the transmission and control of information by capturing brain signals and converting them into electrical signals. In 2023, scientists developed brain-computer interfaces that can convert neural signals into sentences that are close to normal conversation speed. The world's first non-human primate interventional brain-computer interface trial was successfully conducted in Beijing, which promoted the development of interventional brain-computer interface from prospective laboratory research to clinical application. With the development of brain science, artificial intelligence and materials science, and the continuous advancement of brain-computer interface technology, it will play an important role in improving the quality of life of patients and promoting personalized and precise medicine.

Data elements

As a new factor of production, data is the foundation of digitalization, networking, and intelligence, and has been rapidly integrated into production, distribution, circulation, consumption, and social service management, profoundly changing the mode of production, lifestyle, and social governance. Data elements refer to those data resources that exist in electronic form, participate in production and business activities through computing and play an important role. In the digital economy, the role of data elements can be compared to traditional factors of production, such as labor, capital, and land. Data elements are the core engine to promote the development of the digital economy, an important support for the digital transformation and intelligent upgrading of industries, and a basic strategic resource of the country. The National Data Bureau, which was formally established in 2023, is responsible for coordinating and promoting the construction of data infrastructure systems, coordinating the integration, sharing, development and utilization of data resources, and coordinating the promotion of digital China, digital economy, and digital society planning and construction, which not only reflects the need for strategic management and standardized utilization of data resources, but also reflects the importance of the development of the digital economy and data governance at the national level.

Smart Cities

Smart city is a new form of city built with the goal of developing more scientific, more efficient management and better life, supported by information technology and communication technology, through transparent and sufficient information acquisition, extensive and safe information transmission and effective and scientific information processing, improving urban operation efficiency, improving public service levels, and forming a low-carbon urban ecosystem. With the rapid development of science and technology and the advent of the information society, smart cities have become a new direction for urban planning in the future. In 2023, the mainland will continue to increase investment in smart city construction and technological innovation, with major development areas including smart government, smart emergency response, and smart transportation. Smart cities can not only improve the efficiency and quality of urban governance, but also play an important role in responding to environmental changes and improving the quality of life of residents. Looking to the future, people-oriented, urban digital and intelligent transformation, green and low-carbon development, and diversified technological innovation, including the in-depth application of emerging technologies such as digital twins and the metaverse, will make urban services more intelligent and humane.

Carbon footprint

A carbon footprint is a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide emissions directly or indirectly caused by an individual, organization, product, or country over a certain period of time. The calculation of the carbon footprint covers the emissions of a product or service throughout its life cycle, from production, transportation, end-use, to disposal. This comprehensive assessment approach allows us to more accurately understand and evaluate the impact of human activities on the environment. The Carbon Footprint concept was introduced to serve as a reminder of the urgency of tackling climate change. Calculating and understanding an individual's or organization's carbon footprint can help people identify and implement strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and, in turn, fight global warming. In 2023, the mainland has successively introduced a series of policies to accelerate the improvement of the carbon footprint management level of key domestic products, promote the green and low-carbon transformation of related industries, and help achieve the goals of carbon peak and carbon neutrality. With a better understanding of the impacts of climate change and advances in carbon capture, utilization, and storage technologies, more measures are being taken to reduce emissions and achieve carbon neutrality. These measures are profoundly affecting the way we live, work, and may reshape the entire socio-economic fabric.

Flexible manufacturing

Flexible manufacturing refers to a new type of production model that arises in response to the needs of mass customization. It can quickly adapt to changes in market demand, product design updates, and changes in the manufacturing process. Flexible manufacturing emphasizes adaptability and flexibility in the production process, and its core strengths include a high degree of customization and excellent adaptability, which allows it to effectively cope with mass customization needs. With the rise of Industry 4.0, flexible manufacturing is becoming an important trend in the development of the manufacturing industry. The industrial Internet, robotics, and artificial intelligence have changed the production and management methods of traditional industries, making the flexible production mode of "personalized customization" and "one-piece order" a reality. Against the backdrop of changing consumer needs and a global competitive environment, flexible manufacturing will play an important role in customization, responsiveness, and resource efficiency.

Regeneration

Regenerative rice is a rice harvest that uses dormant axillary buds on the rice stump to re-germinate into panicles, and then harvest another season of rice. The mainland has a long history of cultivating this rice, dating back to the Jin Dynasty 1,700 years ago. In 2023, the mainland successfully conducted a regenerative rice experiment on China's space station, and the "space rice" obtained the seeds of regenerative rice, and the research has made significant progress. Mainland scientists have successfully cloned the world's first rice regeneration gene, revealing the molecular mechanism of its involvement in the regulation of rice regeneration. Regenerative rice increases grain production by increasing the harvest index, which is of great significance for ensuring food security and increasing farmers' income.

Controlled nuclear fusion

Controlled nuclear fusion is a controlled, sustainable nuclear fusion reaction. A device built on Earth to carry out controlled nuclear reactions like the sun is called an "artificial sun". The goal of controlled fusion is to achieve a safe, sustained, and smooth energy output, and its potential benefits make it one of the most desirable forms of ultimate energy. Compared with nuclear fission, controlled nuclear fusion releases more energy, has abundant raw material sources, produces less radioactive waste, and has higher safety. In 2023, the continent has made remarkable progress in this field: the fully superconducting tokamak nuclear fusion experimental device (EAST) has already achieved important results in several experiments, and the large nuclear fusion scientific device "China Gyre-3" has been opened to the world, inviting scientists from all over the world to come to China to gather wisdom to tackle key problems. There are still many technical and engineering challenges to the commercial application of controlled nuclear fusion, and once a breakthrough is achieved, it will provide mankind with an inexhaustible source of clean energy.

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