The Brilliant Showcase of AI Applications

The TCL Global Technology Innovation Conference (TIC 2024) was held on December 11, 2024, in Shenzhen, and it marked a significant milestone in the event's history, being the first to invite external participationUnder the theme "AI·Visualizing the Future," the conference placed a spotlight on a variety of cutting-edge sectors, including artificial intelligence (AI) applications, smart terminals, semiconductor displays, and renewable energy photovoltaicsTCL unveiled an impressive array of sixteen technological breakthroughs, with five of these representing full-field, all-scenario AI applicationsNotably, the introduction of an AI-driven film production application developed by TCL's U.SR&D center garnered widespread acclaimThe integration of these innovative AI applications into TCL’s operations is anticipated to generate economic benefits surpassing 540 million RMB, highlighting the company's commitment to leveraging AI for tangible financial growth.

The history of the TCL Global Technology Innovation Conference dates back to 2004, and TIC 2024 marked the eleventh iteration of the event

Transitioning from an internal framework, this year’s conference opened its doors to industry professionals and the public, fostering a more collaborative atmosphereIt drew together numerous academicians and top-tier experts, as well as hundreds of industry leaders and partners across the supply chain, all converging to discuss the new dynamics driving high-quality industrial development.

During the conference, TCL founder and chairman, Li Dongsheng, underscored the role of technological innovation as a paramount force for sustainable business growthHe conveyed, "For companies, there are no shortcuts to technological innovationIt relies solely on independent research and development (R&D), talent accumulation, and long-term investment." As the global technology competition intensifies and AI-induced industrial transformations unfold, Li delineated TCL’s five major technology development strategies: first, upholding a philosophy of long-termism to enhance strategic planning; second, intensifying breakthroughs in original technologies to achieve rapid advancements in key sectors; third, adopting a pragmatic, engineering-driven mindset to expedite the conversion of technological innovations; fourth, improving product structures through technological advancements to penetrate mid to high-end markets; and fifth, enhancing the innovation ecosystem by aggregating superior global resources.

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Yan Xiaolin, CTO of TCL Technology, elaborated on these strategies by presenting TCL’s overall product deployment and technological philosophyIt was emphasized that a constant increase in R&D expenditure is essential, alongside nurturing exceptional talent and building a moat of independent intellectual propertyAdditionally, maintaining open collaboration to co-create an innovative ecosystem that benefits all stakeholders was deemed crucial.

Recognizing AI technology's growing significance, the event showcased the “TCL All-Field, All-Scenario AI Application Solutions” packageThis suite encompasses five innovative applications including AI smart operations, AI simulation, the Xiaotian centralized AI model, AI film production, and the X-Intelligence 2.0 systemThese solutions are designed to empower businesses in every conceivable operational aspect, from R&D and manufacturing to end-user interactions

In a noteworthy instance of application, five short films created by renowned screenwriters and directors using TCL's AI content generation platform were debuted at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood this November, receiving high praise from industry peersThe company plans to release its first 90-minute AI-generated feature film in North American theaters by 2025, further propelling the adoption of AI technology in film creation.

In discussions about prospective trends in AI and innovative integration, DrYan collaborated with Wang Shaolan, president of AI technology firm Zhipu, to share insights from their combined efforts in advancing large-scale AI modelsThey engaged in a stimulating dialogue around the future pathways for AI technologies and their applications.

Focusing on the semiconductor display sector, Zhao Bin, Vice President of TCL Huaxing, pointed out that the evolution from the Internet era to the Internet of Things (IoT) underscores a trend toward a world interconnected through "display technology." He illustrated how the display technology landscape is evolving with semiconductor device convergence, AI power efficiency interactions, and the emergence of active lighting as pivotal components of the future display medium

TCL Huaxing’s APEX technology brand is delivering triple value in display experiences, visual health, and green low-carbon technologiesIn line with these advancements, TCL Huaxing unveiled several groundbreaking products, including the first mass-produced printed OLED 21.6-inch 4K professional display, the highest brightness printed QD-EL laptop screen, LTPO OLED display screens with the lowest drive power consumption globally, and the WHVA productized display solution boasting LCD visual quality.

Meanwhile, in the smart terminal sector, TCL Industrial CTO Sun Li articulated the company’s vision of emerging as a premier global player in smart terminal production, leveraging valuable technology brand positioningThe core of this strategy focuses on three main pillars: display technologies, smart functionalities, and green solutions, aiming to support growth across various domains such as display and home solutions, renewables, etc

To realize these objectives, TCL released five pioneering technologies including Mini LED light control, new AI sleep technologies, advanced food freshness technologies, specialized cleaning technologies, and eye-care technologies for smartphones—each designed to contribute to a holistic, interconnected smart living experience for users.

As for the renewable energy photovoltaic field, Zhang Xuenan, Vice President of TCL Zhonghuan Research Institute, shared insights on TCL's advancements in photovoltaic materials, battery component technology, and quality-centric manufacturing systemsHe articulated a vision where N-type battery silicon technology evolves toward integrated circuit (IC) capabilities, with TCL aiming to persist in overcoming challenges in frontier tech R&D to bolster competitive advantages in solar material technologiesThe institute revealed cutting-edge innovations such as ultra-thin silicon wafers for intelligent photovoltaics and TOPCon copper ribbon components, intended to enhance efficiency and reduce production costs in the solar energy sector.

In smart manufacturing, He Jun, Vice President of TCL Industrial and CEO of Gexing Dongzhi, discussed the integration of cloud-native, intelligent, and platform-oriented software trends in industrial applications

He outlined a strategy focused on “AI + industrial software + intelligent equipment” as the foundational pillars for industrial intelligence solutionsHe illustrated how AI can amplify systems' performance and viability, utilizing large-scale models to integrate data across various operations, thus fostering self-optimization and decision-making within factoriesHe also highlighted innovative case studies from Gexing Dongzhi that leverage AI for enhanced inter-system collaboration in smart manufacturing.

All these innovations stem from TCL’s longstanding commitment to technology and R&D excellenceOver the years, TCL has concentrated on developing core technologies and building a robust innovation ecosystem, having established comprehensive mechanisms for technology R&D spanning from long-term strategic to immediate product developmentThis integration has allowed for effective synergy across the various timeframes, ensuring current business needs are met while securing the enterprise's long-term viability.

With a sustained focus on innovation-driven growth and an investment exceeding 60 billion RMB in R&D over the last six years, TCL boasts a workforce of over 20,000 personnel dedicated to research

The company has filed more than 110,000 patents, including approximately 18,000 under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). This relentless commitment has allowed TCL to redefine global competition in display technologies, securing a leadership position in Mini LED, reaching unexplored territories in printed OLED and Micro LED domains, and establishing a competitive edge through advancements in large silicon wafers and tile components.

As a frontrunner in the technology manufacturing industry, TCL is dedicated to fostering deep integration between academia, industry, and research to cultivate an innovative ecosystemDuring the conference, TCL signed collaborative innovation projects with several prestigious research institutions focused on key sectors such as large AI models, semiconductor displays, and renewable energy photovoltaicsThrough this initiative, they seek to jointly explore extensive technology frontiers and spare no effort in inviting industry partners to engage

Furthermore, TCL honored exceptional collaborators with awards such as the Excellence Co-Creation Award and the Technological Innovation Award, propelling industry cooperation and promoting the establishment of a redefined industrial ecosystemThe “Sunrise Plan,” launched by TCL in September 2021 with an investment of over 20 billion RMB, has already established more than 20 joint laboratories and forged strategic alliances with over 40 institutions, resulting in the initiation of over 120 joint R&D projects and the establishment of more than 130 industry standards.

Looking ahead, TCL is resolute in its commitment to driving innovation, addressing weaknesses in the industrial chain, and boldly venturing into uncharted technological territoryThe company aims to continuously enhance its competitiveness and ability to innovate, propelling the technology manufacturing sector toward transformation and upgraded capabilities.