'AI Plus' enables industrial transformation

A new wave of technological revolution and industrial transformation, driven by artificial intelligence, is unfolding at an unprecedented pace. The rapid development and widespread application of advanced technologies such as the internet of things (IoT), big data and artificial intelligence are expediting the development of new quality productive forces, transforming the way people live and work, and reshaping the model of economic and social development.

China attaches great importance to the development of AI and is advancing its integration into the real economy. Through the "AI Plus" initiative, China is driving the intelligent transformation of traditional industries, cultivating future-oriented industries and accelerating the development of new quality productive forces.

China is determined to seize the strategic opportunities created by AI, which is now at a critical stage of development, with the large-scale application of "AI Plus" across sectors marking the beginning of a transformative era. AI not only promotes innovation and catch-up development, but also helps improve resource allocation and reshape production relationships. As a general-purpose technology, it has the potential to boost productivity through economies of scale and first-mover advantages.

AI has become a new frontier in global competition, and to stay ahead in the development and application of this technology, China has implemented a series of key policies, including the New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan, guidelines on promoting high-level AI application through scenario innovation, and interim measures on generative AI services. These policies show China is committed to developing technologies such as AI and big data by creating a more enabling environment, embracing new applications, introducing strategic plans for future industries and integrating AI into traditional sectors. The goal is to make AI a powerful engine for high-quality economic growth.

China is promoting industrial innovation with AI. However, in order to expedite the development of new quality productive forces, the country needs to leverage scientific and technological innovation to facilitate the upgrading of the AI industry. This means it has to focus on achieving breakthroughs in core areas such as algorithm optimization, multimodal interaction and embodied intelligence — improving AI model efficiency and enabling deeper integration with frontier technologies such as IoT, blockchain and big data.

Also, the country is building globally competitive AI innovation hubs, industry clusters and leading enterprises. While its "AI Plus" initiative supports collaborative innovation across diverse fields including next-generation manufacturing, information and communications technology, and healthcare, its policies are fostering emerging industries such as generative AI, large multimodal models, embodied AI and data annotation, creating a fertile ground for new sectors such as metaverse, humanoid robotics, low-orbit satellite communication and drone logistics to grow.

On its part, AI is fueling the rise of intelligent terminals such as wearables and virtual reality/augmented reality, enabling the upgrading of smart consumption, and breathing new life into the manufacturing sector by spawning industrial robots, smart logistics and industrial internet technologies. By helping upgrade equipment, refine processes and provide intelligent solutions, AI is ensuring that traditional industries focus on efficiency and cost-effectiveness to enhance their global competitiveness.

In the services sector, AI is enabling smarter, and more personalized and inclusive experiences. From smart education and healthcare to intelligent eldercare, autonomous driving and smart cities, new forms of digital services are emerging and reshaping how society operates thanks to AI.

True, China is building a healthy ecosystem for "AI Plus", but it should also build a sound innovation ecosystem and supportive policy environment to unleash the full potential of AI and expedite the development of new quality productive forces. A robust "AI Plus" framework should be focused on research and development, scenario application and industrial upgrading, for which it is necessary to build high-quality datasets, optimize computing infrastructure, and create open-source communities.

There is also a need for China to expand practical application scenarios — launching pilot demonstration projects in sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, transport and education to create benchmark cases — and ensure planning goes hand-in-hand with policy support, including offering incentives for R&D and application, developing data resource governance frameworks, building AI training bases, and nurturing interdisciplinary AI+X talent. For that, China needs to build a sound legal and ethical framework, including protective regulations on data privacy, algorithm transparency and risk management, in order to ensure safe, fair and responsible application of AI.

Guided by the principles of shared governance and mutual benefit, China has been promoting global cooperation on AI, advocating for the implementation of the Global AI Governance Initiative, and supporting the setting of international standards and ethical norms to ensure AI becomes a force for good.

The author is a researcher at the China Center for International Economic Exchanges.

The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.