China’s AI Push Becomes A Central Force In The Upcoming 15th Five Year Plan
Throughout history, major technological shifts have redefined the world. Britain’s mastery of steam engines ignited the First Industrial Revolution, while the United States drove the Second Industrial Revolution through the development of electricity, computers, and the internet. Today, China believes artificial intelligence and intelligent robotics could spark the next great global transformation. If China succeeds in achieving breakthroughs in these fields, it could lead to a new industrial revolution and spark a cultural revival shaped by the intelligent economy. For policymakers, AI represents the golden key capable of unlocking profound technological and economic change.
Modernization through science and technology
The recommendations for China’s 15th Five Year Plan highlight a clear message: national modernization depends on scientific and technological progress. The plan encourages the country to seize opportunities presented by the ongoing wave of global technological and industrial transformation. As AI becomes a central driver of innovation, China is preparing to guide its development in a direction that is safe, equitable and widely beneficial. The strategy emphasizes mobilizing national resources, promoting self reliance, and focusing on practical applications that can support long term growth. This vision reflects China’s determination to anchor its future on scientific strength.
Three major trends shaping China’s AI landscape
During the 2026 to 2030 planning period, China expects three major trends to redefine its AI landscape. The first trend is the rapid expansion of domestic computing power. AI chip design and production are projected to improve significantly, with higher yield rates and stronger sales. Next generation chips with advanced processes, lower energy consumption and greater bandwidth will be organized into large clusters supporting scientific research and industrial supercomputing. Domestic AI centers containing hundreds of thousands of AI nodes are expected to emerge, along with international computing power platforms serving countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative. The mass production of seven nanometer chips and the export of domestic acceleration chips are also becoming realistic goals.
Data driven development will accelerate innovation
The second major trend focuses on mobilizing data resources nationwide. Through initiatives such as the Data Elements X Three Year Action Plan and guidelines promoting real world testing scenarios, China aims to generate vast amounts of high value data. This data will be used to train increasingly capable AI models that support sectors ranging from manufacturing to transportation, energy security and biotechnology. With access to data from all forty one industrial sectors, along with agriculture and city based services, China intends to strengthen its position as one of the world’s largest and most diverse data ecosystems. This data rich environment will serve as the foundation for faster AI training and more reliable applications.
Open source ecosystems boost collaboration and progress
The third trend is the rise of China’s open source AI ecosystem. By encouraging broad participation from researchers, developers and companies, China hopes to create a collaborative environment where innovation can spread more quickly. Open source models and platforms support experimentation, industry wide cooperation and rapid iteration. This momentum is expected to help China narrow the technology gap with leading global AI players and build a strong foundation for future advancements. During the 15th Five Year Plan period, the open source community is likely to play a major role in shaping AI applications across society.
AI revolutionizing scientific research across disciplines
Artificial intelligence is transforming the way scientific research is conducted. In fields such as new materials, medicine and energy, AI is helping scientists move beyond the traditional hypothesis to verification model. Researchers are now adopting a data driven approach where associations, patterns and emergent insights guide hypothesis formation. This shift is accelerating the pace of discovery and reshaping entire scientific disciplines. Recent Nobel Prizes in Physics and Chemistry awarded to scientists working across AI, physics and chemistry highlight how deeply AI is influencing modern research. The ability of AI systems to analyze massive datasets, detect patterns and generate new ideas is changing how breakthroughs are made.
How scientific progress strengthens AI development
While AI is reshaping science, scientific progress is also advancing AI. New discoveries in neuroscience and behavioral science are influencing the design of neural networks and intelligent systems. At the same time, advances in fundamental physics and brain science are helping researchers build more powerful AI models capable of more humanlike reasoning. This interaction between AI and scientific research is pushing the boundaries of what intelligent systems can achieve. In the long run, this synergy could create over a century of technological, industrial and cultural benefits for society.
A turning point for China’s future development
China’s upcoming 15th Five Year Plan positions AI as a pillar of national growth. With rising computing power, abundant data resources and an expanding open source ecosystem, the country is preparing for a new era of intelligent development. The next few years will determine how effectively China can translate these ambitions into real world progress. If successful, AI will not only strengthen the nation’s industrial capabilities but also reshape global technological competition.
