AI and 5G Advance Hand in Hand, Smart Applications Accelerate Integration into Daily Life
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In recent years, China has made continuous efforts in fields such as 5G, AI, IoT, big data, and VR, with successive measures introduced to further enrich and expand 5G application scenarios. Journalists conducting research in Fujian, Zhejiang, and other regions have found that various digital and intelligent applications, represented by 5G, are gradually integrating into areas such as transportation, production, and cultural tourism, bringing smart living to our doorstep.
More Convenient Transportation
"In the past, during rush hours, there were always too many people and too few buses, leading to long waiting times," said Li Hong, a resident of Xiamen, Fujian. Recently, the frequency of buses during peak hours has increased, significantly reducing waiting times.
"Smart vehicles on intelligent roads." According to Dong Dandan, head of the Brand Service Center at Xiamen Lucheng Bus Group Co., Ltd., Xiamen Bus Group, in collaboration with Fujian Mobile, has developed a 5G smart "bus brain," equipping over 3,500 buses with a "5G Safety and Energy-Saving Intelligent Guidance System" to achieve large-scale operation of "5G smart buses."
It is understood that this system utilizes a 5G edge computing platform and intelligent networking technology to intelligently control acceleration and braking, enabling precise positioning, smooth starts, and automatic speed reduction before stops to ensure driving safety.
Based on real-time analysis of "flow volume, flow time, and flow direction" by the platform, Xiamen Bus has intelligently deployed over 450 "flexible interval buses" in densely populated areas during rush hours, shifting from fixed routes and schedules to an efficient operation model of "more buses for more people, fewer buses for fewer people."
Statistics show that since the implementation of the intelligent system, the number of at-fault traffic accidents has decreased by nearly 78%, and passenger injury incidents have dropped by about 76%.
With the help of new technologies, not only has transportation efficiency and safety improved, but the passenger experience has also been enhanced. At the same time, these technologies have brought new conveniences to residents' daily lives.
In 2022, Zhongtian Community in Jinshan Subdistrict, Cangshan District, Fuzhou, Fujian, established a community digital governance platform. Using technologies such as 5G, AI, big data, IoT, and digital twins, the platform provides thoughtful services to residents.
"If unexpected incidents such as falls, illegal road occupation, or fire hazards occur, the platform will immediately detect them," said Chen Hui, director of the Zhongtian Community Residents Committee. The system will promptly notify staff to handle the situation.
Smarter Cultural Tourism
"Hello everyone, I'm Dun Dun." Upon entering the 1:1 replica of Cave 285 in the Mogao Grottoes and putting on AR glasses, the digital tour guide "Dun Dun," modeled after the Nine-Colored Deer, transports visitors back to the Western Wei Dynasty over 1,400 years ago.
Under the combined application of 5G and AR technology, the cave's classical and magnificent dome and colorful murals are vividly recreated before visitors' eyes. Guided by "Dun Dun," the real world and the digital world intertwine, bringing the originally static murals to life within the glasses.
In January of this year, the "Dunhuang AR Smart Guide" system, jointly developed by the Dunhuang Academy and other institutions, was put into use at the Dunhuang Art Exhibition at the Beijing Minsheng Art Museum, garnering much praise from visitors.
Unlike traditional guided tours with manual explanations, images, and videos, AR glasses combined with AI engines, image recognition, and 3D interactive displays allow visitors to immerse themselves in a 360-degree panoramic experience of the history and culture behind the Dunhuang murals.
From the vast deserts of the northwest to the southeastern coast, digital intelligence technology is merging with cultural tourism, enabling more people to enjoy a novel experience that transcends time and space.
Standing on the soft sand of the beach, listening to the waves crashing against the rocks, visitors can see a 'digital avatar' on their phone screens, placed in the picturesque scenery of Gulangyu Island.
'We’ve built a 1.88-square-kilometer virtual replica of Gulangyu Island,' said Liao Zhiyong, General Manager of China Mobile Migu Xinkong. The project, developed by Xiamen City and Migu Company using 5G and computing power networks, has entered testing and attracted many young participants from home and abroad.
Along the streets of the virtual Gulangyu Island, shops display traditional Chinese knots and modern cheongsams. 'Many local trendy brands have set up here, blending Chinese elements with new technology, making it a frontier for cultural exchange and entrepreneurial ventures,' Liao added.
With a deep cultural foundation, digitalization is advancing rapidly. In recent years, the fusion of innovative technology with traditional culture has become a new trend among young people.
Smarter Production
'5G has revitalized local agriculture and cultural tourism,' said Gao Zibin, General Manager of China Mobile Fujian Nanping Branch. Since 2022, Fujian Mobile has built over 100 5G stations in the Wuyi Mountain area and established a 5G intelligent monitoring system in tea plantations, using IoT data cards and dedicated networks for video surveillance.
'With just a few taps, we can monitor data from home, improving tea plantation management efficiency by about 20%,' said Huang Yixuan, General Manager of Fujian Ruiquan Tea Industry. Real-time monitoring of air temperature, humidity, and soil pH values helps optimize tea growth conditions, enhancing yield and quality.
Meanwhile, using 5G+AR technology, Nanping launched the 'Nanping Tea Tourism Smart Map' mini-program, allowing tourists to explore local tea culture through AR. Similar technologies are also making waves in Zhejiang's farmlands.
'Rice planthoppers are the biggest biological threat to rice production,' said Liu Shuhua, Associate Researcher at the China National Rice Research Institute. Currently, most pest monitoring relies on manual labor, which is inefficient and requires high technical expertise.
At the pest monitoring station in Fuyang District, Hangzhou, technicians wearing AR glasses examine sticky boards covered with insects, with AI assisting in identifying the species. Liu noted that the AR+AI smart glasses, developed in collaboration with Beijing Fengchao Century Technology, can recognize over 20 types of pests, potentially reducing labor costs by 50% and improving efficiency by 60%.
"The combination of 5G, AI, and AR technologies holds immense application potential," said Xia Yongfeng, CEO of Hive Technology. He added that the implementation of more advanced digital intelligence technologies will inject new vitality into various industries.