January 7, 2026
China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), along with seven other central government departments, officially released the "AI + Manufacturing" Special Action Implementation Opinions.
This is a pretty significant policy push from Beijing. The overall goal is clear: by the end of 2027, China wants to have secure, reliable control over the core technologies behind artificial intelligence, and it aims to be at the very top globally in terms of AI industry size and how effectively it powers real-world manufacturing.
In practical terms, the document lays out a big, coordinated effort to weave AI deeply into factories, production lines, and everyday industrial processes - basically turning "smart manufacturing" from a buzzword into something widespread and concrete.
Key highlights that foreign readers should pay attention to:
1. Upgrading everyday smart devices The government is strongly encouraging breakthroughs in on-device AI (the kind that runs directly on your phone or gadget, without constantly phoning home to the cloud). They specifically name smartphones, laptops, tablets, and smart home products as the main targets. The idea is to create a new wave of consumer electronics that are faster, more private, and capable of handling serious AI tasks locally - think real-time translation, advanced photo editing, or predictive home automation, all without heavy reliance on internet connections.
2. Pushing forward next-gen wearables and futuristic interfaces There's a clear call to speed up the move from prototypes to actual stores for things like AR/VR headsets, smart glasses, and other wearable extended-reality gear. These are targeted especially at practical, high-value uses:
Factory workers doing inspections or maintenance in hard-to-reach places
Doctors providing remote check-ups and consultations Even more ambitiously, the policy mentions accelerating development and commercialization of brain-computer interface devices (the tech that lets thoughts directly control computers or prosthetics).
3. Going all-in on humanoid robots and physical AI One of the most eye-catching parts is the strong support for embodied AI - robots that can move around and work in the real world. China plans to build dedicated pilot testing bases, training facilities, and full-scale benchmark production lines for humanoid robots. The first deployments will happen in typical manufacturing environments - assembly lines, warehouses, repetitive or dangerous tasks - basically using them to prove the technology works at scale before spreading wider.
Broader context and ambitions
Beyond hardware, the plan also talks about building strong foundations: more powerful AI chips, better industry-specific large models, high-quality industrial datasets, and lots of real-world test cases (they aim for 500 typical application scenarios and 100 high-quality datasets). It wants to nurture a handful of globally influential AI companies, thousands of specialized benchmark factories, and a vibrant open-source community.
For anyone watching global tech and supply chains, this is another clear signal that China is moving fast on two fronts at once:
- Making the phones, laptops, and home devices we all use much more "AI-native"
- Aggressively scaling up robots and physical automation that could change how factories operate worldwide
The policy comes right after broader national directives on AI, so it's part of a bigger, coordinated national strategy. If it succeeds, it could reshape everything from consumer gadget markets to industrial automation - and potentially give Chinese companies a stronger edge in both areas over the next few years.
Let me know if you want a shorter version, more focus on certain parts, or anything else adjusted!
