China has announced plans to establish more than 50 national and industrial standards for artificial intelligence (AI) by 2026, aiming to create a comprehensive standard system to guide the sector’s high-quality development. This initiative, outlined in guidelines jointly released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and three other government bodies, underscores China’s commitment to leading in AI innovation and regulation.
The guidelines highlight seven key areas for developing the AI standard system, including standards for key technologies, intelligent products and services, and industry applications. By setting these standards, China seeks to promote technological progress, enterprise development, and industrial upgrading, leveraging AI to empower new industrialization efforts.
In recent years, China’s AI industry has witnessed significant advancements in technological innovation, product creation, and industry applications. The sector is evolving rapidly, especially with the accelerated development of new technologies such as large language models.
Currently, China is home to over 4,500 AI companies. Official data shows that the core AI industry reached a scale of more than 578 billion yuan (approximately $79.5 billion) in 2023, marking a 13.9 percent increase year over year.
Earlier this year, in its government work report, China introduced the “AI Plus” initiative, a strategic move designed to expand the digital economy and spearhead the transformation and modernization of manufacturing sectors.
By formulating these AI standards, China aims to position itself at the forefront of global AI development, ensuring that the rapid growth of AI technologies aligns with national objectives and benefits the broader economy.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
