Inspired by Xi's words: China's youth ride AI wave

On April 29, 2025, a salon themed around the autonomous evolution of next-generation intelligent agents was held at the Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center (SMC), a large-model incubator in east China's Shanghai.

During his inspection tour, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, joined the salon with keen interest and had cordial exchanges with the young innovators in attendance.

"We are now striving to build a strong country and advance national rejuvenation on all fronts. It's the prime time for the younger generation to showcase their talents and realize their full potential." At the SMC, where the average age of the operation team is under 35, Xi expressed heartfelt expectations for the young people, "To achieve the great dream of the Chinese nation, we place our hopes on the youth."

"General Secretary Xi's earnest words are truly encouraging," said Ji Pan, a researcher born after 1990 and based at the SMC, adding that amid the surge of the large-model sector, he has felt firsthand the rapid progress and strong momentum of China's artificial intelligence (AI) industry.

"We live in an era full of opportunities, offering us young people a broader stage than ever to fulfill our potential," said Wang Dianyi, born after 2000, who is a PhD student at the Shanghai Innovation Institute.

Each generation has its own journey, and each generation of youth has its own mission. China's young people today are more confident, self-reliant and determined than ever before, showcasing an unprecedented spirit of initiative and creativity in making history.