China's latest five-year plan, approved during the 2024 "two sessions," heavily prioritizes the "AI Plus" initiative, aiming for deep AI integration into 90% of the economy by 2030. The plan calls for accelerated breakthroughs in core technologies like chips and AI models to achieve self-reliance.
While pushing for rapid development, the document equally stresses "orderly" and safe advancement, mandating new standards, ethical guidelines, and rules for AI-generated content. This dual focus reflects Beijing's strategy to harness AI's economic potential while managing its disruptive risks through a controlled regulatory environment.
The main topics covered are: China's AI Plus initiative and integration goals, the emphasis on safe and orderly AI development within the five-year plan, and the push for technological self-reliance alongside new regulatory frameworks.
China’s five-year plan emphasises ‘orderly’ AI development amid global tech volatility
First announced in 2024, the AI Plus initiative includes a target of integrating AI into 90 per cent of China’s economy by 2030
Beijing has emphasised the safe and orderly development of artificial intelligence amid growing global anxiety about the disruptive impact of the rapidly advancing technology, as the country’s leaders put the final stamp of approval on China’s next five-year plan at this year’s “two sessions”.
The 15th five-year plan elevates China’s AI Plus initiative as a top national priority, according to a draft version of the document submitted for review to the National People’s Congress, China’s top legislature, on Thursday and seen by the South China Morning Post.
AI is mentioned 52 times throughout the document, compared to 11 times in the 14th five-year plan released in 2021, as Beijing looks to ensure self-reliance in a technology with huge geopolitical and economic implications.
But while it emphasises the importance of accelerated breakthroughs in fundamental AI technologies, including high-performance chips and foundational models, the document includes numerous provisions to ensure that rapid AI progress happens smoothly.
Drawing on language from AI Plus as well as recent AI-related regulations, the planning document calls for the construction of a “beneficial, safe and fair development environment” for AI through measures such as new standards and ethical guidelines, as well as strengthened rules surrounding ownership of AI-generated content.