TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Pegatron Corporation Chairman Tung Tzu-hsien (童子賢) emphasized Friday (Sept. 27) that Taiwan must create conditions to stay at the forefront of innovation and build a sovereign AI with sufficient defensive capabilities to prevent external threats.
Tung spoke at the "2024 Taiwan AI Academy Annual Conference" at Academia Sinica (中央研究院) in Nangang, Taipei, focusing on the theme "AI-Driven Revolution: Opportunities for Taiwan's Industries." He discussed the revolutionary changes AI technology brings to manufacturing and technology sectors.
Tung reviewed Taiwan's past exports, highlighting the shift from bananas, pineapples, sugar, garments, and Christmas lights to advanced semiconductor chips from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC, 台積電). He noted that last year, tech product exports accounted for 55% of Taiwan's total exports, and this year, Taiwan's semiconductor output is expected to exceed NT$5.2 trillion.
Tung pointed out that future wealth hinges on electric vehicles, AI, chips, and food. He stressed that sovereign AI represents "the ability to be autonomous and self-determined." As Taiwan develops the Trustworthy AI Dialogue Engine (TAIDE) and "Sovereign AI," Tung urged the construction of a sovereign AI with proactive defense to prevent sovereignty loss.
The 2024 Taiwan AI Academy's theme, "AI for All" (百工百業用AI), aims to explore how AI technology can drive digital transformation and innovation across Taiwan's industries.
