China: the 15th Five-Year Plan focuses on AI for 2030

China has officially approved its 15th Five-Year Plan, a strategic document that sets the economic, educational, social, and industrial priorities of the country until 2030. This plan, as expected, pays particular attention to artificial intelligence (AI), which is mentioned multiple times in various contexts.

In this plan, AI is associated with other cutting-edge technologies such as quantum computing, biotechnology, and energy. These areas are identified as priority axes within the framework of the country's strategic scientific policy. The document calls for intensified efforts to develop high-performance AI chips as well as the accompanying software. It also includes a commitment to academic and industrial research aimed at exploring new model architectures and the fundamental algorithms that support them.

The development of communication technologies is also highlighted, with particular attention given to satellite systems, 5G+ (also known as 5G-A or advanced 5G), and 6G networks. These technologies are considered essential for supporting AI-related workloads as part of a broader effort to enhance the country's infrastructure for data transmission, general communication, and data processing.

Digital Infrastructure and AI

In the section of the Five-Year Plan dedicated to digital infrastructure, the use of AI is divided into three main components: computing power, AI models, and the organization and dissemination of data across China. The Chinese government envisions the creation of national computing centers, described as "intelligent computing clusters." These centers aim to reduce the barriers that small businesses face when trying to access the latest technologies. The plan also proposes market mechanisms such as the rental of computing resources to enable a wide range of the population to access them. New methods for government agencies to acquire computing services are also being considered.

AI Applications in the Economy

The Five-Year Plan emphasizes that the theoretical work behind training and inference of models must continue in both research and manufacturing. It specifically references multi-modal AI, agent-based AI, and embodied AI. The Chinese government believes that these technologies will play an increasingly significant role in various sectors of the economy, including manufacturing, energy, agriculture, and services. The document cites industrial design, production processes, general operations, energy system management, and agricultural production as areas where the use of AI should be increased and encouraged. In the services sector, the text specifically mentions finance, logistics, and software services.

Impact on Consumers and Public Services

For the Chinese consumer, the government aims to see an increase in the number and types of AI-equipped devices, including phones, computers, and robots. The use of AI is also linked to education, healthcare, elderly care, and the provision of social services. In these contexts, the plan envisions adaptive learning systems in education, diagnostic support in healthcare, and management of welfare systems.

At the national and local levels, the Five-Year Plan seeks to expand the scope and capacity of digital services provided by all elements of the public sector, based on integrated data systems built around standard models. It calls for the use of AI models in general administration and public safety risk assessment.

International Cooperation and Regulation

The government adopts a relatively conservative approach to cooperation with other nations. The plan suggests that it may be possible for China to collaborate with external organizations on international standards regarding data flows and infrastructure. The issue of governance and regulation of data occupies a significant portion of the discussion in the document, calling for specific legal and regulatory frameworks for AI. This includes rules on the registration of new algorithms, security, and overall transparency. The plan also mentions common risks associated with the use of AI, such as data misuse and deepfakes.

Given the size of the country's population, it may not be surprising that there is little mention of specific steps the country will take to ensure its role in the evolution of AI. However, over the next five years, details are more likely to emerge as observable events for analysts of China. The path chosen by the country for AI relies more on open, freely available, and efficient models than on the more common approach in the West: proprietary and massive models controlled by two or three major players, based on hardware primarily from a single supplier.

The details of the Chinese government's implementation of AI in its economy will inform observers about whether the next five years will continue the course chosen by China, or if Western ideology regarding technology will force a change in approach.