All Things Policy Unpacking China's AI+ Initiative
Oct 6, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Shobhankita Reddy, a high-tech geopolitics researcher at the Takshashila Institution, delves into China's newly unveiled AI+ Initiative. She highlights how this initiative marks a shift from past policies, emphasizing sector integration rather than mere connectivity. Reddy explores the significance of embodied AI in industrial policy, data as a strategic asset, and the ambitious targets set for 2027–2035. She also compares China's approach to the U.S., revealing both responses to external pressures and domestic goals unique to China's vision.
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Integration Over AGI Race
- China’s AI+ Initiative prioritizes integrating AI across the economy rather than racing to AGI.
- The plan lists six pillars focusing on broad sectoral integration and global positioning.
China’s Diffusion Deficit
- Jeffrey Ding argues China has strong innovation metrics but a diffusion deficit for general-purpose tech like AI.
- China lags in industry-academia links and business adoption of B2B digitization, limiting productive AI use.
Safety, Skilling, And Labels
- The AI+ document emphasizes AI literacy, safety, and labeling of AI-generated content across the value chain.
- It also explicitly acknowledges unemployment risks and stresses skilling from early education.