As China's 2025 'Two Sessions' get underway, global attention is once again drawn to the country. Elysia, an international student from the United States studying at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS), was invited by the Yangcheng Evening News' iSeeChina column to serve as a "China Explorer." In this role, she engaged in a discussion with Zhong Zheng, a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC) and CFO of Midea Group. After personally witnessing China's advancements in AI, Elysia marveled, "The pace of China's smart development has exceeded my imagination. The NPC deputies' focus on AI also reflects a prudent approach toward rapid technological progress. This demonstrates that AI has already become an integral part of daily life in China."
In the lobby of Midea's headquarter, an array of the company's most representative smart home appliances was on display. What fascinated Elysia the most was a robotic arm. A staff member explained that the robotic arm was manufactured by KUKA, a subsidiary of Midea: "According to the latest data, Midea + KUKA ROBOT Intelligent Manufacturing Technological Park in Shunde, guangdong, has produced over 100,000 industrial robots, which are widely applied in industries such as automotive, aerospace, and electronics."
Hearing this, Elysia was astonished: "In the U.S., Midea is a well-known brand, but we mostly associate it with home appliances. I had no idea it is also manufacturing robots."
In fact, under the wave of AI, Midea has evolved beyond a traditional home appliance manufacturer. In the Western District of Midea Industrial Park, a "smart brain" leverages multiple intelligent technologies to enhance energy efficiency and reduce emissions.
"I can't quite imagine how a 'smart brain' relates to low-carbon sustainability," Elysia inquired. Gan Shuchun from Midea's Building Technologies (MBT) Division unveiled the secret: "If you look from above, you will see neatly arranged square panels on the rooftops. They absorb solar energy, which is then converted into green electricityand used throughout the production process."
Gan further explained, "You can think of it as buildings being integrated with AI. For example, the 'smart brain' can adjust indoor temperature and humidity based on weather conditions. It can also automatically control lighting and air conditioning, creating a comfortable environment for occupants."
This year, Zhong Zheng has been particularly focused on AI-related topics. Ahead of the ''TwoSessions,'' she took the time to share his insights with Elysia and the press. Elysia, who is also deeply interested in AI, asked, "In your opinion, how can AI play an even greater role?"
Zhong Zheng responded with Midea's examples: "At Midea, we utilize AI in various office functions, including graphic and video production, translation, and after-sales services. AI has significantly enhanced operational efficiency. Moreover, Midea applies AI in smart manufacturing, introducing the 'Factory Agent' to equip smart manufacturing with a 'brain.' Our smart home systems are also AI-powered, providing users with an improved intelligent living experience."
Source: Lingnan On the Cloud
美国留学生对话全国人大代表、美的集团副总裁兼首席财务官钟铮：
“中国人工智能发展迅速，超出我的想象！”
2025年全国两会拉开帷幕，世界目光将再次聚焦中国。来自美国的梅丽（Elysia）是广东外语外贸大学的一名留学生，应羊城晚报iSeeChina栏目之邀，梅丽作为“中国探秘官”与全国人大代表、美的集团副总裁兼首席财务官钟铮展开对话。亲自探寻后，梅丽感叹道：“中国的智能化发展速度超出我的想象。人大代表对AI的关切也体现出人们对技术快速发展的审慎。这正说明在中国，AI已经融入生活的方方面面。”
美的总部一楼大厅内陈列着美的最具代表性的智能家电产品，最吸引梅丽的是一只机械手臂。工作人员介绍，这是美的旗下库卡机器人工厂生产的机械臂：“根据最新数据，位于广东顺德的美的库卡智能制造科技园已累计生产超10万台工业机器人，广泛应用在汽车、航空航天、电子等多个行业。”
听到这里，梅丽感到不可思议：“在美国，美的也是有名的品牌，但我们了解比较多的还是家电，没想到已经开始制造机器人了。”
其实，在AI浪潮下，美的已不只是传统的家电厂商。在美的工业城西区，有一个“智慧大脑”，能通过诸多智能化手段节能减排。
“我想象不到，‘智慧大脑’和低碳环保有什么关系？”梅丽发出疑问。来自美的楼宇科技事业部的淦述春向她讲述了其中奥秘：“如果你从空中俯瞰，就能在这些屋顶上看到整齐排布的方块。它们吸收着来自太阳的能量；能源转化为‘绿电’后，会输送到生产的各个环节。”
淦述春进一步解释说：“你可以将其理解为大楼接入了人工智能，比如，‘智慧大脑’可以根据天气情况，为室内提供合适的温湿度，还可以通过自动识别开关照明设备和空调，为大家创造舒适的环境。”
今年，钟铮就特别关注“人工智能”相关话题。两会前，钟铮抽出时间与梅丽、记者交流了履职心得。梅丽对人工智能的发展也十分关心：“您认为如何能让AI发挥更大的作用？”
钟铮用美的集团的案例解答：“以美的为例，我们将AI应用在办公领域，用于图文、视频制作以及翻译、售后等各个环节，AI很大程度上提高了工作的效率。此外，美的还将AI应用在智能制造方面，打造出‘Factory Agent（工厂代理）’，为智能制造装上‘大脑’。我们的全屋智能家居也通过AI助力，为用户提供更好的智能化的体验。”
总策划丨胡泉
策划丨蒋铮 梁克毅
统筹丨赵鹏 李国辉 孙语晗
脚本、文稿 丨付怡
拍摄丨曾潇 王子桐 林清石
剪辑丨黎杰文 方可茵
鸣谢丨广东外语外贸大学留学生教育学院
翻译丨杨钧雅
英文审校丨郑圣浩