China has approved its 15th Five-Year Plan, outlining the country’s key priorities until 2030. The plan covers areas like the economy, education, social development, and industry. A significant focus is placed on advancing artificial intelligence, positioning it as a major strategic goal for the nation.

AI as a Strategic Focus

Within the plan, AI is highlighted alongside cutting-edge fields like quantum computing, biotechnology, and energy. The government emphasizes the importance of developing high-performance AI chips and supporting software. There is also a push for academic and industry research into new AI model architectures and core algorithms.

Developing communication technologies such as satellite systems, 5G+ (sometimes called 5G-A or 5G Advanced), and the upcoming 6G networks is seen as essential to supporting AI workloads. These advancements aim to bolster China’s data transmission, communication infrastructure, and data processing capabilities.

Building Digital Infrastructure

The plan emphasizes enhancing digital infrastructure through three main components: increased computing power, improved AI models, and better data organization and sharing across China. The government proposes creating national “intelligent computing clusters” or hubs, which would act as centralized centers for high-performance computing.

These compute hubs are designed to make advanced technology more accessible to a broader population by leasing computing resources and introducing new procurement methods for government agencies. Smaller firms will also benefit from reduced barriers to accessing the latest AI technology, fostering innovation across the economy.

The plan also calls for continued research into the foundational work behind model training and inference, with a specific focus on multi-modal, agent-based, and embodied AI. The government envisions AI playing an increasingly important role in sectors like manufacturing, energy, agriculture, and services, helping to improve efficiency and productivity.

AI in Industry and Society

China aims to expand AI use in industrial design, production processes, and operational management. Energy systems and agricultural production are also targeted for AI integration, improving overall efficiency and sustainability. The plan highlights the potential for AI to transform these sectors significantly.

In the service industry, sectors like finance, logistics, and software services are prioritized for AI adoption. For everyday consumers, the government wants to see more AI-enabled devices such as smartphones, computers, and robots. AI’s role in healthcare, education, elderly care, and social services is also a key part of the plan.

Specific goals include developing adaptive learning systems for education, diagnostic tools for healthcare, and better management of welfare systems. On a government level, the plan calls for expanding digital services across public agencies, building integrated data systems based on standard models to improve efficiency and service quality.

Inspired by

• https://www.artificialintelligence-news.com/news/chinas-five-year-plan-details-the-targets-for-ai-deployment/

Sources

• npcobserver.com
• ai-expo.net
• techexevent.com
• techforge.pub
• techforge.pub