‘The Success of Young AI Talents Defines My Success Again’, Says Chen Tianqiao

TMTPOST -- Shanda Investment Group is well-established today, yet it is still young; it is a Chinese company, yet international; it aims to make money, but more importantly, it aims to contribute to humanity and society, said Chen Tianqiao, the founder, chairman and CEO of Shanda Investment Group Investment Group and the founder of Tianqiao & Chrissy Chen Institute.

Chen made the remarks recently while delivering an internal speech on the occasion of Shanda Investment Group’s 25th anniversary. In this speech, he unveiled the company’s AI strategic blueprint and pointed out that “the success of young AI talents defines my success again."

Chen shared that Shanda Investment Group would focus on three key areas in AI: intelligent business decision-making, breaking through algorithmic echo chambers for content distribution, and AI services aimed at addressing aging populations and youth development.

Meanwhile, Shanda will continue to invest in AI and scientific foundational research, including AI and long-term memory, as well as AI-powered brain science (focusing on mental health, brain-computer interfaces, and anti-aging fields).

"After joining the company, young people can choose their career path based on their personal interests. Whether it’s research or product development, they will find the right position," according to an internal source from Shanda Investment Group. (who said so?)

Of particular note in Chen’s speech was the announcement of an incentive policy: Shanda Investment Group will allocate 50% of the profits from incubated AI projects to the team, with the remaining 50% reinvested in research and development. "Whether it’s wealth or career, only your success is my true success,” said the entrepreneur.

Chen continues to recruit AI talent. A new researcher at Shanda Investment Group commented, "The company provides an environment for fundamental research and opportunities for commercialization—it's a great choice for young researchers."

Earlier in 2023, Chen had announced Shanda Investment Group’s “All in on AI” strategy. This year, Tianqiao & Chrissy Chen Institute, in collaboration with top universities, published papers on AI and long-term memory, with their models topping major AI community leaderboards. The Institute also partnered with the Science magazine to launch the Chen Institute & Science Prize for AI Accelerated Research for young AI scientists worldwide and collaborated with Princeton University on a joint internship program.

As a pioneer in China’s internet industry, Shanda Investment Group is doubling down on the AI sector.

In his speech, Chen emphasized that Shanda Investment Group has unique advantages in the new round of AI competition. With the funds and brand accumulated over the past 20 years and a global vision and international operational experience, Shanda Investment Group has both the mechanisms and vitality of an innovative enterprise, as well as the patience and determination of a nonprofit institution.

The full text of Chen Tianqiao’s internal speech is as follows, translated and edited by AsianFin for clarity and brevity.

Twenty-five years ago, when I left my job to start my own business, China had just joined the WTO, and the internet industry began to take off. The transformation of productive forces coincided with my youth, making me feel like a member of the luckiest generation. Though my career trajectory shifted due to personal health issues, Shanda Investment Group has never stopped learning, innovating, and giving back to society over the past 25 years.

Now, a greater era is upon us. After 25 years, the convergence of progress and transformation in productive forces and production relations has reached a new height. This is the breakthrough and rapid development of generative AI, exemplified by GPT, and entrepreneurs in China, with over 20 years of open experience, knowledge, and vision, are stepping onto the international stage. This era will undoubtedly benefit a new generation of fortunate young people, and I believe that among them will be all of you at Shanda Investment Group.

Today, Shanda Investment Group has the financial resources and brand strength accumulated over the past 20 years. We don’t bear the burdens of other contemporaneous companies; we are rooted in China, yet our perspective and footprint are global. We possess the innovation mechanisms and vitality of a pioneering enterprise, alongside the patience and determination of a nonprofit organization. Today’s Shanda Investment Group is both mature and youthful; it is Chinese and international; it seeks profitability, but more importantly, it strives to make a meaningful contribution to humanity and society.

Over the next 25 years, we aim to use AI to solve some of the world’s most pressing issues:

· Can AI replace human business decisions, freeing people to pursue greater aspirations?

· Can AI break through information cocoons, creating the best content and delivering it to the right audience?

· Can AI truly help the elderly lead healthier lives and enable the youth to grow up happier?

The best way to demonstrate that these challenges are being addressed is through the success of you, the new generation of Shanda Investment Group. Whether through wealth or career achievements, only your success represents my true success. Therefore, I have already committed to distributing half of the profits from all AI ventures incubated within Shanda Investment Group to the team, with the other half reinvested into research and development to continuously tackle these issues. I hope that you, along with more outstanding young talent, will join Shanda Investment Group and me to seize the opportunities of this new era, continuously learning, innovating, and never stopping.