In late April 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Shanghai to highlight the importance of advancing AI.

Shanghai, a key player in China’s tech ecosystem, is home to major AI research centers like the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Laboratory and the Foundation Model Innovation Center.

Xi’s visit emphasized the city’s ambition to become a global AI hub and its role in China’s national strategy.

Xi called for increased efforts in foundational AI research, such as core chips and software development, stressing the need for self-reliance in AI technologies for national security.

He also highlighted the importance of legal and ethical frameworks to ensure AI safety.

With Shanghai at the center of this AI push, Xi’s visit is expected to foster growth in China’s AI industry, with more investments, research funding, and support for startups and foreign experts.

🔗 Source: Pandaily

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ China’s AI ambitions rely on concrete economic targets with central planning

China’s approach to AI development exemplifies its economic planning strategy, with the Chinese government setting specific financial goals rather than just technological ones.

The country’s “Next-Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan” aims to transform its AI industry from a $1.5 billion sector into a $60 billion industry by 2025 and further to $150 billion by 2030 1.

This target-driven approach reflects China’s broader economic planning philosophy, integrating AI development directly into national economic objectives rather than treating it as a standalone technological pursuit.

The strategy also emphasizes AI integration across multiple sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, governance, and public security systems 1.

This whole-of-government approach contrasts with the more decentralized innovation models seen in Western economies, potentially offering advantages in resource allocation but risking bureaucratic inefficiencies.

2️⃣ AlphaGo match served as China’s “Sputnik moment” for AI investment

The 2016 match between Google’s AlphaGo and Chinese Go champion Ke Jie catalyzed China’s national AI strategy, functioning as a pivotal moment that transformed the country’s approach to AI development.