The world stands at a key moment where rapidly evolving technologies can be harnessed to bring huge benefits to society across multiple fields, while China is also playing an important role in the new intelligent age due to the rapid development of its sci-tech sector, according to Olivier Schwab, managing director of the World Economic Forum (WEF).
Schwab was speaking in an interview on the sidelines of the ongoing 2025 WEF Annual Meeting, which opened in Davos, Switzerland on Monday, gathering nearly 3,000 participants from various regions and industries, with a call for greater cooperation amid the current global uncertainty.
With the five-day meeting themed "Collaboration for the Intelligent Age," much attention at Davos is being placed on how new technologies are impacting our world, and Schwab said that properly exploiting these advancements is key to fostering social and economic development in the new era.
"We are at a moment in time where you have a convergence of a number of technologies which are advancing very rapidly, from synthetic biology, sensors, quantum computing, underpinned by [the] exponential capabilities of artificial intelligence. So all this presents tremendous opportunities for society -- think of cancer research, think of climate solutions, think of solutions for the energy transition," Schwab said an interview with SMG International, a leading media group in Shanghai.
Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang delivered a speech at Davos on Tuesday during which he said the world should seize the opportunity to enhance connectivity in the digital age, and ensure that sci-tech achievements can be harnessed for the benefit of all humanity, enabling more countries to get on board the "fast train" of digital economic development.
Schwab underscored how China is at the forefront of this new age of intelligence, citing the country's advanced tech industries and its efforts to ensure greater global governance of AI as a major contribution to the world.
"China has an important role to play when it comes to the advancement of technologies. And by the way, it's leading in a number of technologies. I think we will hear about further developments in technology from China and how this can contribute to the rest of the world," he said.
Rapid sci-tech advances present tremendous opportunities for society: WEF official
China's AI-powered factories are driving the digital transformation of the manufacturing industry, marked by the rapid rise of "lighthouse factories," the world's most advanced production facilities.
This year, the World Economic Forum recognized 189 lighthouse factories worldwide, with an impressive 80 based in China.
One of them is a chiller factory operated by Chinese home appliances maker Midea Group in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, which has leveraged AI technologies to streamline complex processes, and enhance design and planning efficiencies.
The factory specializes in large central air conditioning systems, widely used in airports and industrial plants, with 80 percent of its products customized. To meet rising demand and the shift toward tailored orders, it integrates AI algorithms with its self-developed chiller selector data platform and smart management system, to optimize selection and design.
According to Sam Luo, research and development director of Midea Building Technologies Chiller Product Company, once they know a client's needs, they will input data into the system, which has significantly shortened product design time from at least a week to within an hour.
"This boosts efficiency, reduces error rate, and makes it easier for standardized production later on," he added.
Meanwhile, technicians use augmented reality (AR) glasses to efficiently complete hundreds of intricate wiring tasks in the production of core components.
The AR technology also assists in technician training, said Huang Xuesong, manufacturing center director of Midea Building Technologies Chiller Product Company.
"This technology helps our employees learn skills more quickly. It helps improve the wiring pass rate by 30 percent. What used to take a skilled worker about 30 to 45 days to master now takes basically seven days," he said.
Inside the factory's smart production workshop, an advanced digital management platform uses big data and simulation technologies for real-time monitoring, while automated equipment precisely allocates materials.
The plant also utilizes industrial robots for welding large components and deploys numerous sensors to collect data, alongside advanced AI technologies such as machine learning, to optimize production processes.
Local officials said the Midea factory's innovations in smart manufacturing are crucial for stimulating digital transformation among other enterprises across Chongqing.
"Midea's 'lighthouse factory', as the municipality's first lighthouse factory, sets a great example for other small and medium-sized enterprises and the whole industrial chain, to apply AI across multiple scenarios, to boost the overall competitiveness of Chongqing's manufacturing businesses," said Zuo Yijun, director of intelligent technology division at Chongqing Municipal Economic And Information Commission.
China's AI-powered factories drive digital transformation in manufacturing
