Introduction of Wukong AI to China's Tiangong Space Station

China's Tiangong space station has recently incorporated an AI chatbot, Wukong AI, which specializes in navigation and tactical planning. Named after Sun Wukong, the protagonist of the "Monkey King" legend in Chinese mythology, this chatbot was introduced to the space station in mid - July. It has already successfully accomplished its initial mission: providing support to three taikonauts during a spacewalk.

Limited Information and Development Background

Details regarding Wukong AI remain scarce. Chinese authorities have disclosed that it was developed from a domestic open - source AI model. As reported by Xinhua, the state - run news agency of China, engineers designed it to meet the specific requirements of manned space missions. They centered its knowledge - base on aerospace flight data.

Function and Significance

Zou Pengfei from the taikonaut training center informed Xinhua that "This system can offer rapid and efficient information support for crew members during complex operations and fault handling. It enhances work efficiency, provides in - orbit psychological support, and improves coordination between space and ground teams."

Technicians integrated the AI with Tiangong on July 15. A month later, it started providing support, marking the first instance of China's space station utilizing a large language model (LLM) during in - orbit missions. Wukong AI assisted the crew during a six - and - a - half - hour mission. During this mission, taikonauts installed space debris protection devices during a spacewalk and conducted a routine inspection of the station.

System Structure and Performance

The taikonauts have commended their new assistant for its "comprehensive content." Chinese media depict Wukong AI as a classic question - and - answer system composed of two modules: one is installed on the space station, and the other is on Earth. The ground - based module conducts in - depth analysis, while the module accompanying the crew addresses immediate challenges. The synergy of these two modules results in an advanced assistant that can adapt to each mission.

Comparison with Other Space AI Systems

Wukong is not the pioneer of AI systems in space or on a space station. The International Space Station already houses Astrobee, a robot that aids astronauts with routine tasks, and CIMON, a conversational psychological support system. However, the uniqueness of Wukong AI lies in its integration of the functions of an intelligent assistant, similar to those used on Earth, with a sole focus on space navigation.

Significance of Tiangong Station in China's Space Strategy

The Tiangong station is the cornerstone of China's strategy to strengthen its status as a space power over the next 30 years. Currently, it functions as a microgravity laboratory for conducting experiments that are unfeasible on Earth. In the future, China intends to expand it and transform it into an intermediate logistics and training platform between the moon and the Earth's surface.

Reason for the Name

The inspiration behind the AI's name? Sun Wukong is a mythical figure from the classic novel "Journey to the West." In China, he symbolizes astuteness, adaptability, perseverance, and the pursuit of knowledge.

This story was originally published on WIRED en Español and has been translated from Spanish.