A study by Tsinghua University has opened a new front in the global technological race by examining the impact of language on AI models. Research published in China’s leading aviation journal suggests that Chinese may offer an intrinsic advantage over English, though currently this advantage is limited. A team led by Professor Chen Haixin from the School of Aerospace Engineering designed an AI system equipped with reasoning and visual capabilities to improve aircraft wing shapes. Kathmandu, May 19.
The Tsinghua University study raises critical questions for industrial powers and opens a new chapter in global technological competition. If you instruct an artificial intelligence (AI) model to design an optimal aircraft, would you communicate with it in English or Chinese? Does the language make a difference? According to research published on April 27 in China’s foremost aviation journal, Acta Aeronautica et Astronautica Sinica, the answer is mixed. While Chinese may confer an internal advantage over English, this advantage is not highly significant at present.
Led by Professor Chen Haixin of Tsinghua’s School of Aerospace Engineering, the team developed a sophisticated AI agent designed for a classic engineering challenge—modifying the shape of a modern aircraft wing to reduce drag. The AI was trained to ‘see’ and ‘reason.’ Using a vision-language model, the AI was shown images of wing shapes and airflow patterns, supplemented by engineering principles and design history. It was then required to propose subtle geometric modifications such as adding minor ‘bumps’ or adjusting curvature to make the wing more aerodynamic. The AI learned through a trial-and-error process, receiving ‘rewards’ each time it successfully reduced drag.
