PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

Pan Yunhe

Also known as 潘云鹤, Yunhe Pan, Yun-he Pan

Pan Yunhe is a Chinese computer scientist who proposed the concept of artificial intelligence 2.0 and took the lead in drafting China's national plan for new-generation AI. After a bachelor's degree in architecture at Tongji University and a master's degree in computer science at Zhejiang University, he became a pioneer of intelligent CAD and computer art. He served as president of Zhejiang University from 1995 to 2006, joined the Chinese Academy of Engineering in 1997, and was its executive vice president from 2006 to 2014. In 2016, he published "Heading toward Artificial Intelligence 2.0" in Engineering, and in 2017 he became head of China's New Generation Artificial Intelligence Strategic Advisory Committee. He is a professor at Zhejiang University, and he edits the journal Design and Artificial Intelligence.

Now at
Zhejiang University and New Generation Artificial Intelligence Strategic Advisory Committee
Born
1946
Works
238
Citations
4,873
h-index
29
Badges

Years link to their sources. Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 22 October 2026.

Timeline

  1. 1970–1981

    Architecture to computer science

    He earns a bachelor's degree in architecture from Tongji University in 1970 and a master's degree in computer science from Zhejiang University in 1981. His research covers computer graphics, computer-aided design, AI and industrial design, and he is a pioneer of intelligent CAD and computer art in China.

  2. 1995–2006

    President of Zhejiang University

    He becomes president of Zhejiang University in 1995 and serves until 2006. He is a professor of computer science at the university.

  3. 1997–2014

    Academician and CAE vice president

    He becomes a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering in 1997. From 2006 to 2014, he serves as its executive vice president.

  4. 2016–2017

    Heading toward AI 2.0

    In 2016, he publishes the paper "Heading toward Artificial Intelligence 2.0" in the journal Engineering, which reviews six decades of AI and suggests how China could develop AI 2.0. In November 2017, the Ministry of Science and Technology announces the New Generation Artificial Intelligence Strategic Advisory Committee, with him as its head. He proposes the concept of artificial intelligence 2.0 and takes the lead in drafting China's New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan.

  5. 2018

    Education Ministry AI advisory group

    In 2018, he becomes chief of the advisory group of the Ministry of Education's Artificial Intelligence Technology Innovation Expert Group. In June 2018, he gives the lecture "The Future of AI 2.0" at a symposium held at Zhejiang Lab.

  6. June 2019

    Lecture on AI 2.0 in Macau

    In June 2019, he is the keynote speaker of the University of Macau's University Lecture Series, speaking on "Heading towards Artificial Intelligence 2.0". He discusses the environment behind AI 2.0, its core concept, the change in the objective of AI development, and emerging technologies.

  7. 2021–2022

    Chief AI scientist at Zhejiang Lab

    In 2021, he donates to found the Pan Yunhe Artificial Intelligence Science and Education Fund at Zhejiang University, which rewards students and teachers with notable achievements in AI science and education. In 2022, as chief AI scientist of Zhejiang Lab, he delivers the report "AI Tends to Be Data- and Knowledge-driven" and presents visual knowledge representation as a key to AI 2.0.

  8. As of October 2026

    Head of a national AI committee

    He is a professor at Zhejiang University, head of the New Generation Artificial Intelligence Strategic Advisory Committee, and Editor-in-Chief of the journal Design and Artificial Intelligence. In July 2026, he says that as AI for Science evolves, artificial intelligence is shifting from a research tool into a research collaborator, in comments on Zhejiang University's Qiushi Engine system.

Career

  1. Since 1995Zhejiang UniversityPresident
  2. NowNew Generation Artificial Intelligence Strategic Advisory CommitteeHead
  3. 2022–2023Zhejiang LabChief AI Scientist
  4. From 2018Ministry of Education (China)Chief
  5. 2006–2014Chinese Academy of EngineeringExecutive Vice President

Education

  1. 1981Zhejiang UniversityMaster's degree in computer science
  2. 1970Tongji UniversityBachelor's degree in architecture

From the biography and OpenAlex affiliations (the years of papers that list the organization), so some years are approximate.

Most-cited works

  1. Heading toward Artificial Intelligence 2.02016 · Engineering · 433 citations
  2. A Multimedia Retrieval Framework Based on Semi-Supervised Ranking and Relevance Feedback2011 · IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence · 398 citationsWith Feiping Nie and Jiebo Luo
  3. Multiple knowledge representation for big data artificial intelligence: framework, applications, and case studies2021 · Frontiers of Information Technology & Electronic Engineering · 309 citations
  4. Intelligent Computing: The Latest Advances, Challenges, and Future2023 · Intelligent Computing · 292 citationsWith Yaochu Jin
  5. Towards a new generation of artificial intelligence in China2020 · Nature Machine Intelligence · 286 citationsWith Jun Zhu and Kai Yu

From OpenAlex, as of 21 October 2026.

  1. People shaping AI who were born in China spent 54% of recorded working years there from 2018 onIncludes Pan Yunhe. We estimate that people shaping AI who were born in China spent 54% of recorded working years there in 2018–2026, up from 51% in 2008–2017.
  2. The company share of AI researchers’ top papers was 31% in 2020–2024 and 8% in 1970–1974Includes Zhejiang University. We estimate where the people shaping AI worked when their most-cited papers appeared: the company share was 31% in 2020–2024 and 8% in 1970–1974, and Google led all organizations in 2020–2024.
  3. The median h-index is 48 at universities and 14 at frontier AI labsIncludes Zhejiang University. The median h-index is 48 at universities and 14 at frontier AI labs. We compare publishing careers, recent citations, dual appointments and job moves across 2,420 university researchers and 308 frontier-lab researchers.
  4. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology trained or employed 44 of the 187 AI major-prize winners, more than any other universityIncludes Zhejiang University. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology trained or employed 44 of the 187 AI major-prize winners, more than any other university. We compare doctorate and 5+ year employment links, career timing and current workplaces for 187 major-prize and 1,111 best-paper winners.

Colleagues

People with dated positions at the same organization in the same years.

Sources and credits

Photo: We have no published photo of Pan Yunhe yet. Send us a free-licensed photo.

  1. Notice Regarding the Establishment of the Ministry of Education AI Technology Innovation Expert Group cset.georgetown.edu. Checked 20 October 2026.
  2. Yunhe Pan - CHM computerhistory.org. Checked 20 October 2026.
  3. Pan Yunhe - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org. Checked 20 October 2026.
  4. Heading toward Artificial Intelligence 2.0 engineering.org.cn. Checked 20 October 2026.
  5. Profiles of Members of China's New Generation Artificial Intelligence Strategic Advisory Committee cset.georgetown.edu. Checked 20 October 2026.
  6. Zhejiang University Education Foundation Pan Yunhe Artificial Intelligence Science and Education Fund was Established en.zuef.zju.edu.cn. Checked 20 October 2026.
  7. Academician Pan Yunhe at Zhejiang Symposium en.zhejianglab.com. Checked 20 October 2026.
  8. Computer scientist Pan Yunhe gives talk at UM on AI 2.0 um.edu.mo. Checked 20 October 2026.
  9. PAN Yunhe: AI Will Become Data- and Knowledge-driven en.zhejianglab.com. Checked 20 October 2026.
  10. Yunhe Pan | KeAi Publishing keaipublishing.com. Checked 20 October 2026.
  11. Zhejiang University unveils Qiushi Engine in bid to extend AI beyond research assistant role ehangzhou.gov.cn. Checked 20 October 2026.