China Targets Over 90% AI Application Penetration by 2030 Under "AI Plus" Initiative

BEIJING – China has unveiled an ambitious "AI Plus" initiative, outlined in a recent guideline from the State Council, aiming to deeply integrate artificial intelligence across all sectors of its economy and society. The plan prioritizes practical applications to enhance productivity and economic growth, moving beyond abstract AI development goals. By 2030, the nation projects over 90 percent penetration of intelligent applications, with the intelligent economy becoming a significant driver of economic growth.

The initiative marks a strategic shift from the previous "Internet Plus" strategy, focusing on AI's cognitive capabilities to empower and transform industries. As highlighted by Kyle Chan in a recent tweet, the plan is "not about achieving some abstract idea of 'AGI' but about practically infusing AI into every sector of the economy to drive productivity and growth." This pragmatic approach seeks to reorganize production factors and upgrade value creation models.

The guideline sets out a three-step roadmap, with significant milestones by 2027, 2030, and 2035. By 2027, China anticipates broad AI integration into six key areas: science and technology, industrial development, consumption upgrading, people's well-being, governance, and global cooperation, with new-generation intelligent terminals and AI agents reaching over 70 percent usage. This rapid adoption is expected to make AI tools as common as smartphones are today.

Looking further ahead, the 2030 target emphasizes AI as a full enabler of high-quality development, with the intelligent economy serving as a core economic engine. The long-term vision extends to 2035, by which time China aims to enter a new stage of intelligent economic and social development, providing robust support for socialist modernization. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) stated that AI is expected to contribute over 100 trillion yuan (roughly $14 trillion) to the global economy by 2030.

To achieve these goals, the "AI Plus" initiative outlines strengthening eight fundamental supporting capabilities, including basic model performance, data supply innovation, computing power management, and talent development. The plan also addresses concerns about job displacement, calling for large-scale AI skills training and directing innovation towards job-creating opportunities. It underscores the importance of a multi-stakeholder safety governance structure and promotes international cooperation on AI development and governance.