Beijing Institute for General Artificial Intelligence
北京通用人工智能研究院 | |
.jpg) Headquarters | |
| Formation | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Song-Chun Zhu |
| Type | Research institute |
| Legal status | Active |
| Purpose | Artificial General Intelligence Research |
| Headquarters | 2 Yiheyuan Rd, Haidian, Beijing, China |
Director | Song-Chun Zhu |
Executive Vice-Director | Dong Le |
| Affiliations | Peking University, Tsinghua University |
| Website | eng |
Beijing Institute for General Artificial Intelligence (BIGAI; Chinese: 北京通用人工智能研究院; pinyin: Běijīng Tōngyòng Réngōng Zhìnéng Yánjiùyuàn) is a research organization focused on artificial general intelligence (AGI) established in Beijing, China in 2020.[1] The institute receives support from the Beijing Municipal Government and the Ministry of Science and Technology, and has collaborations with institutions including Peking University and Tsinghua University.[2]
History
[edit]BIGAI was established in 2020 under the leadership of Professor Song-Chun Zhu, who previously held a position at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) for 28 years before returning to China.[3] The institute was created with government backing as part of China's initiatives to advance artificial intelligence research.[1]
Organization
[edit]BIGAI is a research organization with affiliations to Peking University, Tsinghua University, and other academic institutions in China.[4] The institute is directed by Professor Song-Chun Zhu, who specializes in computer vision, statistics, applied mathematics, and artificial intelligence.[5][6]
Leadership
[edit]Research Approach
[edit]While many Western AI research institutions focus on large language models with what BIGAI characterizes as "big data, small tasks" approaches, the institute claims to pursue a "small data, big tasks" paradigm.[1] According to BIGAI, this approach draws inspiration from cognitive science and developmental psychology.[6] The institute aims to develop what Zhu describes as the "crow paradigm" focused on reasoning behavior and intelligence based on value and cause-effect relationships, as an alternative to what he terms the "parrot paradigm" of current AI systems.[7]
Key Research Areas
[edit]- Vision and scene understanding[6]
- Cognitive reasoning[6]
- Embodied intelligence[6]
- Multi-agent learning[6]
- Value-driven intelligence[6]
- Autonomous intelligence[6]
Notable Projects
[edit]Tong Tong AI Child
[edit]In January 2024, BIGAI announced "Tong Tong" (also referred to as "Little Girl"), which it described as an "artificial intelligence child."[3] According to BIGAI, Tong Tong is a virtual entity designed to simulate behavior and capabilities similar to those of a three or four-year-old child. The institute claims the AI can assign tasks to itself, learn independently, and demonstrate simulated emotions and value systems, though independent verification of these capabilities has been limited.[7]
The system reportedly operates on the TongOS2.0 AGI operating system and TongPL2.0 programming language, both developed at BIGAI.[8] The project was presented at the Frontiers of General Artificial Intelligence Technology Exhibition in Beijing on January 28–29, 2024.[3]
In April 2024, BIGAI presented an updated version, Tong Tong 2.0, which it claims has enhanced capabilities more comparable to a 5-6 year old child, including improved language, cognition, movement, learning, emotion, and interaction abilities.[9] These claims have not yet been extensively evaluated by independent researchers outside China.
The Tong Test
[edit]BIGAI has also proposed the "Tong Test," presented as an alternative to the Turing test for evaluating artificial general intelligence.[10] According to BIGAI, the test involves capability assessment across five dimensions – vision, language, cognition, motion, and learning – and incorporates a value system ranging from physiological needs to social values.[3][10] The scientific community has not yet widely adopted this test as a standard for AGI evaluation.
Philosophy and Goals
[edit]BIGAI states its mission as "pursuing a unified theory of artificial intelligence to create general intelligent agents for lifting humanity."[6] The institute aims to develop intelligent systems with capabilities in perception, cognition, decision-making, learning, and social collaboration that align with human values.[4][2]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Spotlight on Beijing Institute for General Artificial Intelligence". Center for Security and Emerging Technology. 2024-05-14. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
- ^ a b c "Beijing Institute for General Artificial Intelligence". School of Artificial Intelligence, Peking University. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
- ^ a b c d "Award-winning AI scientist who left US for China creates world's first AI child in Beijing". The Star. 2024-02-02. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
- ^ a b "Beijing Institute for General Artificial Intelligence (BIGAI)". LinkedIn. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
- ^ "Song-Chun Zhu". Wikipedia. 2024-09-18. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "About - BIGAI: Beijing Institute for General Artificial Intelligence". BIGAI. 2023-10-07. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
- ^ a b "World's First AI Child Tong Tong Unveiled in China". Analytics India Magazine. 2024-02-03. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
- ^ "Say hi to Tong Tong, world's first AGI child-image figure". China Daily. 2024-04-18. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
- ^ "China: World's first AI child can now negotiate, throw tantrums like a 6-year-old". Interesting Engineering. 2024-10-30. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
- ^ a b "The Tong Test: Evaluating Artificial General Intelligence Through Dynamic Embodied Physical and Social Interactions". BIGAI. 2023-12-06. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
External links
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