Smart robots are displayed at a demonstration zone in Zhangjiang AI Robot Valley, a high-tech hub in Pudong New Area, Shanghai. (SHEN CHUNCHEN / FOR CHINA DAILY)

Cultivation of cross-disciplinary professionals are important for promoting the long-term growth of artificial intelligence, and universities should prioritize the development of practical ability among students, scholars said on Thursday.

Artificial intelligence is an area that involves a lot of interdisciplinary cooperation, said Xu Chengzhong, dean of the faculty of science and technology at the University of Macau.

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Speaking at a forum at the Global AI and Robotic Conference, held in Shenzhen on Thursday, Xu said the industry is developing fast, with the advanced technology being applied in a wide range of areas, including education, healthcare, transportation, and retail. The cultivation of professionals with knowledge both in science and applied fields is vital for the long-term development of the industry, and it is important for universities to develop a curriculum that is in line with the objective, he said.

Artificial intelligence is an area that involves a lot of interdisciplinary cooperation, said Xu Chengzhong, dean of the faculty of science and technology at the University of Macau

Liu Jie, head of institute for artificial intelligence at Harbin Institute of Technology, echoed Xu’s view. “Artificial intelligence should integrate deeper with other areas to really address problems in people’s daily lives. Only by achieving that can the industry embrace a bright future and sustainable development,” he said.

Liu acknowledged that the AI market had overheated, as a large number of players flocked into the sector to grab a piece of the pie, but he said the industry is now becoming more mature. AI professionals who can create high added value will have strong competitiveness in the job market in the future, he said.

Yao Xin, a professor from the department of computer science and engineering at Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen, warned of the gap between universities’ respective AI curriculums and the actual need of enterprises.

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It has been the case that what students have learned in universities doesn’t fit business needs, he said, calling for better design of curriculums to fill the gap.

He added that more focus should be put on developing students’ practical ability instead of just paying the most attention to the knowledge so that they will be better prepared for the rapid changes in the AI industry.

sally@chinadailyhk.com