01-08-2025
Wu Yiquan: The Chinese AI researcher scoring big on the basketball court
Amid China's tech revolution, a new kind of multidisciplinary star is emerging – one who dominates both coding and sport.
Wu Yiquan, an artificial intelligence (AI) scientist pioneering legal large language models by day, is also making headlines as a rising provincial basketball sensation.
Wu, an assistant professor at the Zhejiang University law school, specialises in developing and training legal large language models for applications in education and research.
The 1.8m-tall (5 feet 9 inches) star caught media attention after he scored 22 as the defender for the West Lake team in a Zhejiang Provincial City Basketball League qualifier match on July 17.
In an interview with Henan-based news site Daxiang News on Wednesday, Wu said scientific research and basketball had things in common.
'The most captivating aspect of basketball is its unpredictability,' he said. 'The pregame analysis often differs from the actual situation on the court, which tests one's ability to adapt in real-time.
'In research, it is crucial to stay calm and positive when facing any challenges.
'Many young scholars embrace multiple identities with various hobbies. Science is not everything in life. Pursuing interests and passions can help cultivate a well-rounded personality and gain a broader perspective on challenges.'
Wu completed his studies from undergraduate to doctorate in computer science at Zhejiang University in january, with the university recognising his dissertation as outstanding.
He said he was inspired to pursue digital law research after encountering a 'smart court' project during his third year of studies.
His research could be seen as a specialised large model for law. 'Because law ... requires high professionalism, while exploring technological innovation, we should ensure that the technology serves the greater good,' Wu said.
'My students come from diverse majors in computer science, law, liberal arts and sciences, forming a cross-disciplinary team. I encourage them to divide work among themselves, exchange ideas and create new sparks.'
Wu's GitHub developer platform profile highlights not only his academic achievements but also his sporting awards, including a photo of him holding the hoop after a successful dunk.
He captained the university men's basketball team for five years from 2019 and was the Chinese University Basketball Association's Outstanding Athlete for three consecutive years.
Wu is the project leader of an open-source legal large language model named 'wisdomInterrogatory', providing legal help such as Q&A, case analysis and legal document generation.
It was co-developed by Zhejiang University, Shanghai UniDT Technology and the Alibaba Discovery, Adventure, Momentum and Outlook (Damo) Academy.
The chatbot is designed to draft documents and offer advice.
For example, when asked how to recover money from an online scam, the chatbot gave a four-step guide: keep chat records and bank transfer receipts, report criminal behaviour to the police, seek legal aid and pursue a civil lawsuit to recover funds after the criminal case concludes.
'Everyone should protect their legal rights. Be cautious and do not easily trust requests for help from strangers to avoid being scammed. Stay vigilant to prevent similar incidents in the future,' it advised.
In another case, when prompted to draft a contract for a full-time employee, the chatbot generated a template detailing job responsibilities, compensation and benefits, including salary and social insurance, duration of employment, as well as confidentiality clauses.
It also listed attachments such as the employee handbook, insurance certificates and company rules and ended with a disclaimer.
'The above is just for reference. The specific content should be adjusted according to actual circumstances. It is advisable to consult a professional lawyer or human resources expert to better formulate a contract that meets your needs,' it said. - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
