Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Handover Showcases AI and Robotics
Beijing's Olympic handover ceremony at Pyeongchang 2018 features AI-controlled robot screens and panda mascots to highlight China's technological advancements.
Beijing kicks off its transition to the 2022 Winter Olympics host with a stunning eight-minute presentation at the Pyeongchang closing ceremony. The performance features 22 skaters led by panda captains and supported by 24 AI-controlled robot-screens shaped like the Great Wall. Skaters glide over ice projections of traditional Chinese motifs while the overhead screens display images of China's high-speed trains, aircraft, and spacecraft.
Renowned director Yimou Zhang replaces the massive human casts of the 2008 Beijing ceremonies with robotic substitutes and introduces AI-powered visual media to Olympic history for the first time. Zhang states that the presentation focuses on the joint performance of AI and actors, alongside using the internet to interact with a Chinese audience. This innovative approach reflects a year of contemplation and two months of intense preparation and choreography.
China uses this global stage to cement AI as a key part of its national identity and showcase its new image in the modern era. This technological focus aligns with recent high-profile signals from the Chinese government, including AI-related books appearing on President Xi Jinping's desk. Official government pledges further emphasize the deep integration of artificial intelligence, big data, and the internet with the real economy to drive future growth.