National Science and Technology Council launches Taiwan AI Center of Excellence

National Science and Technology Council launches Taiwan AI Center of Excellence

2023-03-31

As the meteoric rise of ChatGPT has shown, artificial intelligence is rapidly entering many new areas of life. Now a new branch of the National Science and Technology Council aims to make Taiwan a global competitor in AI. The Taiwan AI Center of Excellence will enable collaboration between many different experts in the field. Its focus will be on developing new technology, cultivating talent, and AI management.

This virtual presenter is indistinguishable from a real person, in both demeanor and speech. As AI enters into every industry, the National Science and Technology Council has launched the Taiwan AI Center of Excellence, with the aim of making Taiwan a world leader in the field.

Wu Tsung-tsong
National Science and Technology Council chair
To take our work global, collaboration between industry, government, education and research is the most important thing. Taiwan is not a large economy, but if we integrate our work and form a united force, we will be very powerful.

The National Science and Technology Council will invest in technology research and development, cultivation of talent, and AI management. The first stage in that push towards integration is supporting government and financial agencies to upgrade their AI services. They hope to perhaps see results by the end of the year.

Tsai Chih-hung
Taiwan AI Center of Excellence
What Taiwan should develop is trustworthy deep AI engines. The next stage is to start testing computational power and databases on different levels and in different forms. As the chair of the National Science and Technology Council has already said, there should be some results by the end of the year.

Many basic models developed by global firms don’t have satisfying support for traditional Chinese. The center will also focus future efforts on developing language functions, so AI can be more reliable and practical in Taiwan.

台灣人工智慧卓越中心! 國科會:晉升數位強國

2023-03-31

ChatGPT的問世，也讓全世界見證，人工智慧正深入我們的日常生活中。而台灣身為晶片強國，為了進一步融合軟硬體實力，國科會也推動"台灣人工智慧卓越中心"，從科研技術、人才培育、AI治理等三大面向，結合產官學界能量，協助台灣升級成為數位強國。

虛擬主播，不管是儀態還是談吐，都令人真假分不清，面對人工智慧逐漸深入各行各業，國科會也推動"台灣人工智慧卓越中心"，喊出讓台灣晉升數位強國。

[[國科會主委吳政忠]]
“未來要邁向國際，最重要的是產官學研合作，台灣經濟體不大，但是我們整合起來，成軍出去力量很大”

國科會表示，要整合產官學各界力量，投入科研技術、人才培育，以及AI治理，第一階段要協助政府和金融單位，升級人工智慧服務，最快年底端出成果。

[[台灣AI卓越中心總召蔡志宏]]
“台灣應該發展的是可信賴的深層式AI引擎，下一階段是開始就算力、就資料集，做不同階段、不同型態的測試，主委已經揭示，年底應該有一定成績”

而有鑑於國際大廠開發的基礎模型，繁體中文能力不足，未來台灣人工智慧卓越中心，也將加強語言能力，讓AI更加便民可信賴。

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Tsai receives Global Leadership Award from US think tank

President Tsai Ing-wen’s New York stopover culminated on Thursday, with her receiving the Global Leadership Award from the Hudson Institute. She accepted the award for her efforts toward strengthening Taiwan-U.S. ties. She also gave a speech to a closed-door audience of U.S. officials and policy experts. According to a summary of her remarks by the Presidential Office, Tsai pledged to collaborate with likeminded nations to pursue peace and defend democracy.

On her second day in the U.S., President Tsai Ing-wen attended an event held by the Hudson Institute. She accepted a Global Leadership Award and gave remarks about Taiwan’s role in the world.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
Today the very conditions that enabled so much freedom and prosperity are actually at risk, not just for Taiwan but for countries the world over.

There were more than 100 people present, most of them U.S. officials or experts from think tanks. As the event was closed to the media, the Presidential Office later released a summary of Tsai’s remarks.

Chang Tun-han
Presidential Office spokesperson
President Tsai emphasized that this award is a tribute to the resilience demonstrated by the people of Taiwan in the face of tremendous challenges. With the courage and persistence of the people of Taiwan, and the support from our U.S. friends, Taiwan began its democratic transition and eventually brought an end to over three decades of martial law. Today, Taiwan stands with likeminded countries in pursuit of peace, prosperity, and the defense of democracy. Secondly, the president stressed that the PRC’s escalation of tension is evident, but Taiwan’s response has been measured and composed, demonstrating to the world that we are the responsible cross-strait stakeholder. The Taiwanese people want peace, not conflict, and history tells us that the best way to avoid war is through building strength. Thirdly, while Taiwan’s ties with the world’s democracies have grown stronger in recent years, we have continued to be excluded from participating in the functions of the United Nations and its affiliated international organizations. Such unjust conditions cannot stand. Taiwan needs support from our fellow democracies to facilitate participation in international organizations. Fourthly, because an unstable Taiwan Strait poses serious economic and security risks to the entire world, it is all the more important for us to safeguard the peace and stability of the region. This means not only increasing our security cooperation, but also facilitating a stronger, more robust economic partnership. Lastly, she stressed that Taiwan is a resilient society that believes in the power of democracy, but we cannot solve 21st-century challenges or push back against authoritarianism alone. We will continue to work with the U.S. and other likeminded democracies to demonstrate that democracy can deliver and that Taiwan is committed to safeguarding our way of life.

Tsai received the Global Leadership Award from the think tank’s board of trustees chair, Sarah May Stern, and its president and CEO, John P. Walters. Photos of the event, along with a summary of Tsai’s remarks, were published on her social media right after the ceremony. Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was rumored to attend, but ultimately did not show up.

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Tsai visits Taiwanese American businesses, representative office in New York

While in New York, President Tsai also connected with the Taiwanese American community. She stopped by a grocery store stocked with Taiwanese products and a breakfast diner serving classic Taiwanese fare, including youtiao. Tsai also paid a visit to Taiwan’s representative office, where she met culinary prodigy Liya Chu and two talented Taiwanese illustrators.

Braving subzero temperatures, President Tsai Ing-wen took a stroll on the streets of New York to visit a grocery store specializing in Taiwanese goods.

The two young Taiwanese American owners say they wanted to introduce Taiwan to more people. Their most popular product is fruit snacks banned in China.

Lillian Lin
Shopkeeper
When China banned pineapples, many Americans wanted to help, but didn’t know how. So we started a crowdfunding campaign. We used the money to buy fruits from small farmers in Taiwan and to turn them into dried fruit snacks to bring over. It’s our bestselling product.

After visiting the store, Tsai stopped for breakfast at a joint opened by another Taiwanese American, Josh Ku. As a big fan of baseball, Ku was wearing the jersey of Taiwan’s team at the World Baseball Classic. His chef was clad in another Taiwanese jersey, a gift from Ku.

Josh Ku
Breakfast shop owner
I’m a baseball fan, a huge New York Mets fan, but also when I go back to Taiwan I always try to go to a game. I think going to a baseball game in Taiwan is much different.

Trigg Brown
Breakfast shop chef
I don’t watch sports very much, but we love the name. Brother Elephants.

In the afternoon, Tsai headed to Taiwan’s representative office in the city to meet Taiwanese youths. There, she tried sweet jellies made by culinary prodigy Liya Chu.

She also met two Taiwanese illustrators who were in New York for a comics and cartoon festival.

A ee mi
Illustrator
I illustrated this book before the referendum on marriage equality in 2018. I am a big supporter of issues like this. I wanted to take Taiwan’s freedom and diverse values to faraway places.

The illustrator’s support for LGBT rights struck a chord with the president, whose administration legalized same-sex marriage in Taiwan. Tsai also appeared delighted by a surprise gift.

It was a portrait of Tsai in the artist’s uniquely charming style.

People rushed to take selfies with the president. It was her first U.S. visit in three years, which added extra significance to the encounter.

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Ma invokes ‘1992 Consensus’ at summit with China’s Taiwan affairs director

Turning now to former President Ma Ying-jeou, who’s halfway through his 12-day China tour. Ma had a meeting with China’s Taiwan Affairs Office Director, Song Tao , on Thursday. Taking center stage was the "1992 Consensus," a framework for cross-strait relations that Ma used during his tenure. During the meeting, Ma brought up the term again and again, but he didn’t once mention its familiar definition - that of "one China, different interpretations." Back in Taiwan, Premier Chen Chien-jen said it was clear that China had already changed the definition, to leave no room for ambiguity and allow only for unification.

Former President Ma Ying-jeou met China’s Taiwan affairs chief, Song Tao, on Thursday. Ma sent his greetings to Xi Jingping and recalled their encounter in 2015.

Ma Ying-jeou
Former president
Mr. Xi and I underscored the importance of the “1992 Consensus.” With the “1992 Consensus,” the two sides of the strait can set aside disputes and create a mutually beneficial relationship.

Ma also touted the cross-strait policies of his administration.

Ma Ying-jeou
Former president
Cross-strait talks resumed, and we signed 23 agreements. There were meetings between the heads of cross-strait affairs, and there were meetings with the leaders of both sides. The two sides established a historic model for peacefully resolving difficult issues.

Song Tao
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office head
Mr. Ma Ying-jeou cares for our peoples and firmly believes in the revitalization of China. On the political foundation of adhering to the “1992 Consensus” and opposing Taiwan independence, he has promoted the peaceful development of cross-strait ties to benefit people on both sides of the strait.

The “1992 Consensus” was brought up five times, as Ma and Song echoed one another. But Ma did not mention the KMT’s definition of the term, which allows for different interpretations of “one China.” Over in Taiwan, Premier Chen Chien-jen had this to say.

Chen Chien-jen
Premier
China has already reformulated the “1992 Consensus,” defining it as “one China” and “one country, two systems.” That’s a definition the people of Taiwan cannot accept. I hope that President Ma can understand that the consensus in Taiwan is that Taiwan is a sovereign and independent country.

The premier urged Ma to listen to the people of Taiwan. Earlier during his China tour, Ma visited a COVID-19 exhibition, where he praised China’s management of the outbreak.

Chen Yu-chen
KMT lawmaker
Ma Ying-jeou was referring to the mainland’s approach. Their economy came to a halt so that the virus wouldn’t spread, so I think it’s not wrong in the slightest to thank the government of the mainland for that, for all they’ve done for humankind.

Cheng Yun-peng
DPP lawmaker
To use a popular term now, I’m “shook” that they would say such a thing. Now, even the WHO chief is asking China to shed some light on the situation, and to allow an international probe into the matter. Ma Ying-jeou is the only person to praise their management, after visiting Wuhan.

Ma is only halfway through his 12-day China visit, but the controversies are already piling up.

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TSMC grapples with securing US funding while guarding trade secrets

TSMC says it’s still working out how to secure U.S. funding for its American operations, without compromising sensitive data. Under the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act, funding applicants must reveal trade secrets like unit prices and capacity. At a Friday event, TSMC Chairman Mark Liu said the U.S.’ disclosure requirements were, quote "unacceptable." He said further negotiations were needed to prevent a negative impact on Taiwan’s operations.

TSMC Chairman Mark Liu stepped down as the head of the Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association, succeeded by TSMC Vice President Cliff Hou. Before passing the baton, Liu asked the government to build a chip ecosystem based in Taiwan.

Mark Liu
TSMC chairman
Under the impact of the U.S. tightening controls over semiconductor equipment and raw materials, change could be coming to our ecosystem of chip components manufactured in China. Hopefully we can bring in more advanced semiconductor equipment and high-end materials, so that we can manufacture in Taiwan.

Amid the U.S.-China semiconductor war, the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act is encouraging domestic production with subsidies. Funding applicants must not expand in China for 10 years, and they must disclose their operational data. On Friday, TSMC’s chairman said that some of Washington’s terms were unacceptable.

Voice of Mark Liu
TSMC chairman
We are still in discussions with the U.S. Some of the conditions are unacceptable. We need to negotiate based on what we find acceptable and hope that they adjust, so that we won’t be negatively affected.

The requested data includes revenue, profit, production capacity, unit prices, and price forecasts – all deemed as trade secrets. Liu said further talks with Washington were needed.

Voice of Mark Liu
TSMC chairman
We will discuss this directly with the U.S. Our success and Taiwan’s success are also the success of the United States. So we can’t allow Taiwan’s operations to be negatively affected.

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Stephany Yang
FTV reporter
This store teaches people how to give new life to garbage, and turn waste into new products such as wireless phone chargers and phone stands.

A typical session starts off with using an AI program connected to a camera to learn about what each object is composed of.

Next, participants will move on to check a screen that will indicate whether there are volatile organic compounds, or secondary pollution present during production. The room is wired with air sensors to collect the information.

After that, visitors can take different types of trash and put them into the machine. The trash will be broken into small parts. In just around 10 minutes, this wireless cellphone charger made from garbage is complete. This workshop, called "Trash Kitchen," uses a simple model to allow participants to understand the process of recycling and the circular economy. It uses waste such as plastic bottles and milk cartons, and even parts of used sandals picked up from the beach to make new products like wireless phone chargers, phone stands, flower vases, clothes, and more.

Arthur Huang
Founder and CEO
This space, first and foremost, is for education. The front part is education to teach people that everything you see in this space is all made from trash. From the chair to the structure, to all the beautiful fixtures and housewares that you see. It is all made by the daily waste consumption that we produce. We turn that into a durable material. They can learn about the engineering technique from the software, LCA footprint analysis, all the way to the method of making. How do you turn trash into a new building material with smart machinery?

Trash Kitchen is the brainchild of Arthur Huang, the founder of Miniwiz, a company that specializes in upcycling and turning trash into new buildings. Last year, it opened up a workshop to allow people of all backgrounds and ages to learn how to give new life to trash. Huang says the average participant reduces carbon emissions by 1.1 kilograms.

Arthur Huang
Founder and CEO
Pretty much you can make almost anything. All the way from an airplane, to a car, to a robot. But, we have to dumb it down to something that people can actually experience in 20 minutes. So we decided to have a couple of different small products people can bring back. The first foray, we started in November is a cellphone charger. We started with a wireless 10-watt wireless charger.

The workshop is open to the public, NGOs, and institutions to come and learn how to give new life to products.

Arthur Huang
Founder and CEO
Taiwan is one of the highest recycling countries and cities in the world. We are the highest, if not, the second to the highest. We are comparing between Japan and Germany. We actually have a total recycling rate of about almost 60 %, and that is considered good, but that is the best in the world. The other one is on the PET level, we are almost considered 95% to 99% fully recycle.

There are four Trash Kitchens around the world, in Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore and Saudi Arabia. The team hopes to continue to educate the public and train engineering talent around the world.

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