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As the "AI Plus" initiative continues to advance, AI will make work smarter, learning more efficient, life better, and consumption more diverse, Huo Fupeng, an official with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China's top economic planner, told a press conference on Friday.

Huo made the remarks as the State Council issued a guideline on Tuesday to implement the "AI Plus" initiative, promoting the extensive and in-depth integration of AI across various fields to accelerate the cultivation of new quality productive forces.

Huo said that the guideline noted the application of AI in consumption upgrades and people's well-being, which are closely related to the daily lives of ordinary people.

Huo said work methods will become smarter. On one hand, leveraging the characteristics of AI technology can improve the working environment of traditional jobs, reduce the burden on workers, and lower safety risks. For example, in labor-scarce or high-risk fields such as mining and high-altitude operations, AI is expected to become a reliable "partner" for workers. On the other hand, by conducting AI training, workers can master new tools, adapt to new business models, and stimulate employment vitality and innovation momentum, he noted.

In addition, education and learning will become more efficient. AI will be deeply integrated into all elements and processes of education and teaching, spanning classroom instruction and after-school learning, the official added.

The quality of life will become better. In terms of social services, the orderly promotion of AI application in scenarios such as assisted diagnosis, health management, and medical insurance services will significantly enhance the level of grassroots healthcare services. Applications such as intelligent companionship, assistive devices for the disabled, and smart elderly care will also improve people's quality of life. In the cultural industry, using AI to assist in creating more cultural content with Chinese cultural elements and identities will further enrich cultural production, strengthen cultural dissemination, and promote cultural exchange, he said.

In addition, the consumption structure will be more optimized. On one hand, new scenarios for services consumption are being further expanded. AI will enhance the quality of life in areas such as entertainment and e-commerce, creating new consumption scenarios like experiential consumption and personalized consumption, meeting the diverse and multi-level needs of residents.

On the other hand, new forms of product consumption are continuously emerging. Intelligent terminals enable an "Internet of Everything," with rapid adoption of smart connected vehicles, smart homes, and wearable devices, building a comprehensive intelligent interaction environment. AI will also accelerate integration with cutting-edge technologies such as the metaverse, low-altitude flight, additive manufacturing, and brain-computer interfaces, fostering product innovation and the emergence of new forms, continuously unlocking new consumption potential, Huo noted.

Huo noted that implementing "AI Plus" cannot be achieved overnight. Multiple factors, including technological maturity, business complexity, and industry development foundations, must be comprehensively considered for a phased and gradual implementation. 

To this end, the document released on Tuesday proposes three phased goals. According to the guideline, by 2027, China aims to achieve significant progress in the deep integration of AI in six key sectors, with the penetration rate of new-generation intelligent terminals and AI agents expected to surpass 70 percent.

At this stage, the emphasis is on achieving breakthrough applications in key areas. The next one to two years represent a critical window for the implementation of AI. It is essential to pool resources and efforts from across society, focusing on six major areas — science and technology, industry, consumption, people's livelihood, governance, and global cooperation — to form a collective force, promote the "AI Plus" initiative, and achieve tangible results, Huo said.

The guideline also stated that by 2030, AI will empower China's high-quality development across all fronts, with the penetration rate of next-generation smart terminals and AI agents exceeding 90 percent, highlighting that the intelligent economy will become a significant growth driver for China's economy.

This stage emphasizes the breadth and depth of AI applications. The general public should widely benefit from the services provided by intelligent software and hardware, making AI a universal engine for development across various industries and sectors, Huo noted. 

By 2035, China will enter a new stage of intelligent economy and intelligent society comprehensively, providing strong support for realizing socialist modernization, according to the guideline.

Huo said that the goal sets higher development requirements for "AI Plus." Therefore, it is necessary to focus on building new forms of an intelligent economy and intelligent society, promoting a revolutionary leap in productivity and profound changes in production relations.

During the press conference, the NDRC also vowed to avoid disorderly competition. Zhang Kailin, an official with the NDRC, said that we will promote regions to leverage their geographical characteristics, resource endowments, and industrial foundations to scientifically determine development priorities, fostering a collaborative development pattern with complementary strengths, while resolutely avoiding disorderly competition and reckless expansion.

Global Times