WGDC 2025: Why Spatiotemporal Intelligence Could Shape the Future of AI

WGDC 2025: Experts Highlight Spatiotemporal

Intelligence as the Future of AI

Beijing, May 21, 2025 — The 2025 World Geospatial Developers Conference (WGDC25) officially opened in Beijing with the theme “Spatiotemporal Intelligence Reshaping the World.” The event brought together leading minds in geospatial technology, AI, and industry to explore the transformative power of spatiotemporal intelligence.

At the main forum, a high-level panel discussion titled “Technological Evolution and Reflection Driven by Artificial Intelligence” featured influential voices including:

• Li Deren, Academician and recipient of China’s Highest Science and Technology Award

• Wang Zhongyuan, President, Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence (BAAI)

• Chen Jinpei, CEO, Qianxun SI

• Tao Chuang, Chairman, VIZTECH

• Liu Yuzhang, Founder, Taibo Network (Moderator)

Human vs. Artificial Intelligence

Academician Li Deren emphasized that human intelligence remains the foundation of all technological progress. “AI is a product of human wisdom,” he said. “While machines may outperform us in specific tasks, intelligence is cultivated through learning and interaction — a uniquely human process.”

Wang Zhongyuan noted that although today’s large models mimic certain brain functions, their learning process differs. “Humans learn with few examples, but AI needs massive datasets,” he explained. “True general intelligence has not yet been achieved.”

The Rise of Spatiotemporal Intelligence

Chen Jinpei introduced the concept of spatiotemporal intelligence — the integration of space, time, and data — as essential for real-world AI applications. “Human progress is closely linked to how we perceive and navigate time and space,” he said. “Machines must now develop this awareness to interact meaningfully with the physical world.”

Li Deren added, “Spatiotemporal intelligence goes beyond virtual capabilities — it addresses real-world sustainability and balance between humans and nature.”

Wang Zhongyuan echoed this, calling spatiotemporal intelligence the next key breakthrough in AI. “Current AI lacks real awareness of space and time. That’s where we must innovate.”

Data, Models, and Industrial Impact

Tao Chuang highlighted that spatiotemporal intelligence demands far more complexity than traditional language models. “You're not just dealing with text, but coordinates, time-series, and dynamic environments,” he said. “This requires massive datasets and a new way of thinking about model architecture.”

He emphasized that AI won’t replace top experts, but it’s already surpassing generalists in many domains. “AI is the most powerful productivity tool of our generation.”

What’s Next for AI?

Looking ahead, Wang Zhongyuan predicted a shift from language-based models to multimodal, real-world AI. “The next phase is grounded in physical reality — not just words on a screen,” he said. “Spatiotemporal data is 100 to 1,000 times larger than text data. This is where AI must go.”

In summary, while today's spatiotemporal intelligence owes much to artificial intelligence, the future of AI may, in turn, owe its breakthroughs to spatiotemporal intelligence — a field that deserves far more attention and exploration.

-Article source: Taibo Network edited and reposted.