Will Chinese become the king language for commanding AI on engineering tasks?
Study suggests sophisticated AI models can respond better to Chinese than English before learning how to fine-tune geometric modifications
The answer, according to the research published in China’s top aviation journal Acta Aeronautica et Astronautica Sinica on April 27, is mixed: Chinese may have an intrinsic advantage over English, but not by much – at least for now.
Led by Professor Chen Haixin with Tsinghua’s School of Aerospace Engineering, the team created a sophisticated AI “agent” designed to perform a classic engineering task: reducing drag by tweaking the shape of a modern aircraft wing.
The AI was taught to “see” and “reason”. Using a Vision-Language Model (VLM), the AI was shown images of wing shapes and their airflow patterns, combined with a set of engineering rules and design history.
It then had to propose subtle geometric modifications, such as adding a “bump” here or adjusting a curve there, to make the wing more aerodynamic. The AI learned through a process of trial and error, receiving a “reward” every time it successfully reduced drag.