Politburo holds a second AI study session after seven years
On Friday, the Politburo held a study session focused on AI.
ICYDK: These monthly sessions – chaired by Xi Jinping – tackle the big-picture issues that keep senior officials up at night.
This is the second time AI has been the focus of a Politburo study session – the only sci-tech issue to receive this accolade – underscoring its strategic importance.
Xi hammered home the message that developing AI is a top priority:
- “AI, as a strategic technology leading a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, is profoundly changing the way humans produce and live.”
- “The Party attaches great importance to the development of AI.”
Getting down to brass tacks, the big man called for:
- Strengthening basic research
- Achieving breakthroughs in core technologies like high-end chips and foundational software
- Leveraging tax incentives and government procurement to support AI development
- Formulating AI regulations and standards
- Seeking international cooperation
Get smart: DeepSeek’s success has propelled AI to the top of China’s tech policy agenda – that means a wave of central and local government support is in the pipeline.
Get smarter: Overenthusiastic local officials will go full FOMO on AI development, and blindly back local champions with scant regard to their long-term prospects – this will lead to inefficient investments and distorted market dynamics, at least over the short term.