The Chinese government released a guideline on deepening the implementation of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Plus Initiative to promote the in-depth integration of AI and various industries, vowing to achieve extensive and deep integration of AI with six key areas including sci-tech and consumption. The guideline stipulated that by 2027, the popularization rate of applications such as next-generation intelligent terminals should exceed 70% while the scale of core industries of the intelligent economy should achieve a high growth rate. The role of AI in public governance should be significantly enhanced, while the open and cooperative system of AI would be continuously improved. By 2030, the document called for AI to become a full enabler of China's high-quality development, with the penetration rate of next-generation smart terminals, smart bodies and other applications exceeding 90%. The smart economy would by then become an important growth driver for China's economic development, promoting access to technology and sharing of benefits.
The six areas are sci-tech, industry, consumption upgrading, people's wellbeing, governance and global cooperation, in which the policy emphasized efforts in promoting AI as an international public good that benefits humanity, fostering an open ecosystem for AI capacity building based on equality, mutual trust, diversity, and win-win outcomes. After initial market testing, AI has demonstrated its ability to solve complex problems in some real-world scenarios. Its role in reducing costs, increasing efficiency, and boosting total factor productivity is becoming increasingly prominent, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said in a statement, expounding the significance of the guideline.
Demand for AI applications is unprecedentedly strong across all sectors of society, and the country is entering a critical window for AI's implementation, the top economic planner said. However, the NDRC noted that there are problems such as inconsistent understanding of the role of AI, inadequate matching of supply and demand, and “last mile” obstacles in implementation.
Xiang Ligang, Director General of the Beijing-based Information Consumption Alliance, told the Global Times that new intelligent products and scenarios are emerging one after another, and various intelligent entities are already playing a vital role in production and daily life, with intelligent devices, such as connected cars, smart wearables, smart homes and intelligent robots increasingly introduced into factories and homes. “The guideline takes a holistic view of the development of AI to tap its potential and the ultimate aim is to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and boost capability," Xiang said, as reported by the Global Times.
