Results for "Progress" : Scipedia

Collection of Frontiers of Architectural Research

Progress in research on Chinese urbanization

Abstract

This paper is a comprehensive study on the progress in research on Chinese urbanization. On the basis of the concept and connotation of Chinese urbanization defined by Chinese scholars, the paper systematically collects the research results on the issues concerning urbanization in China from the different approaches of demography, geography, city planning, economics and history, reviewing the process of research on Chinese urbanization made both domestically and internationally. In this paper, the domestic studies fall into five periods as follows: the initial period of research on urbanization in China (1978–1983), the period with both domestically constructed and borrowed theories on urbanization (1984–1988), the period of research on leading urbanization factors and localization (1989–1997), the period with the research greatly promoted by the government (1998–2004), and the period featuring flourishing studies on the science of urbanization in China (2005 till today). In contrast, the overseas research on Chinese urbanization can be divided into three periods: the period studying the history of urbanization in China (before the 1970s), the systematic research on Chinese urbanization (1970–1999), and the comprehensive research on Chinese urbanization (2000 till today). The paper focuses on the key results of research on Chinese urbanization, including nine issues as follows: the guidelines and road for urban development in China, the features of Chinese urbanization, the mechanism driving the growth of Chinese urbanization, the process of Chinese urbanization, the spatial patterns of Chinese urbanization, the urbanization in rural areas in China, the comparison of urbanization in China and other countries, and globalization and regional urbanization. Moreover, the paper also summarizes key academic activities and important events concerning Chinese urbanization, including documents, activities, and events of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the State Council, National Development and Reform Commission, the State Ministry of housing and Construction, the State Ministry of Civil Affairs, the State Ministry of Science and Technology, and National Fund on Science, as well as major international cooperation projects and conferences, concluding that the studies of Chinese urbanization have distinct characteristics, that is, foreign scholars have conducted many studies on Chinese urbanization, while the studies made by Chinese scholars in the field mainly feature practicability, and the interaction between Chinese and foreign scholars as well as the application of international practice in China yield satisfactory fruits. However, there are also several problems in the studies of Chinese urbanization, such as the ambiguity in understanding the concept of urbanization, the lack of fundamental statistics, the emphasis on the research of actual phenomena and the neglect of theoretical exploration, the focus on regional urbanization and the inadequate studies on national and global background. China is in the transitional period from planned economy to market-oriented economy, making it hard for the direct introduction and application of the framework of urbanization that emerged in developed capitalist countries. At the same time, the domestic framework of urbanization created under the conditions of previous planned economy is also inapplicable. Therefore, the promotion of Chinese urbanization faces a series of theoretical issues. In comparison with the western developed countries and most developing countries, Chinese urbanization faces more complicated backgrounds and more problems. The theories and framework of urbanization developed in both developed and most developing countries cannot be directly applied in China. So the research purpose in China is to form unique theories on urbanization based on actual conditions and characteristics in this country and the research shall adopt a multiple approach focusing on the impact of the progress of society, economy, population, politics, culture, environment, technology and public policies on Chinese urbanization.

Abstract

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3r Congrés d'Economia i Empresa de Catalunya - Abstracts

AI as a factor of social progress

Abstract

4TH CONGRESS OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS OF CATALONIA: TOWARDS A MORE DIGITAL AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY (2024)

THEMATIC AXIS: 6. THE SCIENCE AND INNOVATION SYSTEM AND THE CHALLENGE OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION Artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies

TITLE OF THE COMMUNICATION: AI as a factor of social progress

AUTHORS: Javier M. Asenjo Fernández (UOC), Manuel Murillo Rosado (UB) (both founding partners of the Conscienzia.org Association)

JUSTIFICATION: AI is at the center of numerous debates due to its potential risks. However, it can also be a source of economic and social opportunities.

OBJECTIVES
- To reflect on the impact of AI on the economy, business and society.
- To address the requirements for AI to become a factor of social progress.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION
AI is a set of programs that simulate human intelligence using massive data analysis and statistical prediction among other techniques. Its origin dates back to the 1950s with the work of Alan Turing (and others), although the real explosion came when the Chat GPT tool developed by the American company Open AI was presented in the open. A world of new possibilities and potential risks opened up globally.

SOME KEY VARIABLES AFFECTED BY THE IRRUPTION OF THE IA
- PRODUCTIVITY: there is talk of an increase of 15% per year on a sustainable basis. Many tasks can be done in half the time.
- EMPLOYMENT: companies could consider doing without part of their workforce. Some jobs could disappear and new ones could emerge.
- TIME: a surplus of time can be generated that can be devoted to other things, giving rise to new opportunities in emerging sectors.
- EQUALITY: it can increase the GDP of the most developed countries (Macro) and of the most qualified companies and people (Micro).

AI AS A FACTOR OF SOCIAL PROGRESS
For this to happen, great progress would have to be made in order to meet a series of preconditions:
- Governments and companies would prioritize ethical values when configuring algorithms, and people would be given primacy over machines.
- Society would enhance the opportunities and minimize the risks of its use in strategic sectors: health, education, business, employment, ...
- All social levels would be involved: political, business, trade union, ... in the search for a sustainable balance between jobs destroyed and those generated.
- Critical thinking, verification of sources and reflection on the proper use of the application of AI would be promoted in education and citizenship.
- Machines would pay taxes and social security contributions to compensate for the undesirable effects of their scalability.

AI can make a difference as a factor of social progress in areas such as:
- By sustainably increasing productivity, GDP can be improved and that differential could be devoted to improving services to the public
- Improving individualized attention: to patients (health), to the customer (companies), to students (education), ...
- With more quality time available (Kairos in Greek), people could devote it to areas they cannot now: taking care of people, enjoying the environment, art, leisure, learning, having a healthier life, creating, ...

Abstract

4TH CONGRESS OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS OF CATALONIA: TOWARDS A MORE DIGITAL AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY (2024)

THEMATIC AXIS: 6. THE SCIENCE AND INNOVATION SYSTEM AND THE CHALLENGE OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION Artificial intelligence and other [...]

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Abstracts del 4rt Congrés d’Economia i Empresa de Catalunya

AI as a factor of social progress

Abstract

4TH CONGRESS OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS OF CATALONIA: TOWARDS A MORE DIGITAL AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY (2024)

THEMATIC AXIS: 6. THE SCIENCE AND INNOVATION SYSTEM AND THE CHALLENGE OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION Artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies

TITLE OF THE COMMUNICATION: AI as a factor of social progress

AUTHORS: Javier M. Asenjo Fernández (UOC), Manuel Murillo Rosado (UB) (both founding partners of the Conscienzia.org Association)

JUSTIFICATION: AI is at the center of numerous debates due to its potential risks. However, it can also be a source of economic and social opportunities.

OBJECTIVES
- To reflect on the impact of AI on the economy, business and society.
- To address the requirements for AI to become a factor of social progress.

ABSTRACT

Abstract

4TH CONGRESS OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS OF CATALONIA: TOWARDS A MORE DIGITAL AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY (2024)

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AI as a factor of social progress

Abstract

The public unveiling of powerful AI models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT exemplifies the extent of AI's capabilities, shifting its relevance from theoretical development to tangible impact on society. Although the discourse on AI often emphasizes concerns about job displacement, [...]

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Full Papers del 4rt Congrés d’Economia i Empresa de Catalunya

Artificial Intelligence as a Factor of Social Progress: Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly evolved into one of the most influential forces driving social, economic, and cultural transformations globally. From its conceptual origins with Alan Turing’s work on computational machines in the 1950s, AI has progressed to being [...]

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