AI unicorn SenseTime appoints Three-Body Problem author Liu Cixin as director of ‘immersive’ sci-fi research project
- Liu Cixin, author of the Three-Body Problem trilogy, is one of China’s most famous sci-fi writers, with his books soon to be adapted by Netflix
- SenseTime, whose AI technology is used to scan faces in streets, subways and residential complexes across China, first announced its new sci-fi venture in May
China’s most famous sci-fi writer Liu Cixin, author of The Three-Body Problem, is joining one of the country’s largest artificial intelligence (AI) companies, SenseTime Group, as director of its Science Fiction Planet Research Center.
SenseTime announced Liu’s new role at the 2021 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai on Friday. The author of China’s epic trilogy, which kicked off the current phase of sci-fi fever in the country, teased audiences at the event by saying he was collaborating with SenseTime on building “an immersive world which welcomes everyone to experience the vastness of the universe, the insignificance of human beings, and the infinite possibilities in the future”.
“AI is an accelerator of the imagination which can promote the development of science and technology, ultimately leading to the advancement of humanity,” said Liu.
SenseTime, whose AI technology is used to scan faces in streets, subways and residential complexes across cities in China, first announced its new sci-fi venture in May.
The company is working on what it describes as an “innovative and immersive offline entertainment experience” with the copyright holder of Liu’s book, Three Body Universe (Shanghai) Cultural Development Co, a subsidiary of Yoozoo Group.
SenseTime has yet to reveal details of the project but said it aims to use its AI technology to help users experience the Three-Body Problem and even “interact” with the characters from the trilogy.
