AI technology is rapidly advancing multiple service sectors in China, spanning from catering and tourism to elderly care and medical service, offering users enhanced convenience and a greater diversity of options.

In a community in east China's Hangzhou, a new tech hub in the country, a robot dog named "Xiaoxi" supports local nursing workers to enhance the life quality for elderly residents in the community.

Shi Guizhen, 87 years old, is pleased with the help of "Xiaoxi". The pet-like robot delivers her medication and offers voice reminders, ensuring she takes it on time. 

"It's really smart and capable," said Shi. 

Besides delivering medication, "Xiaoxi" also accompanies the elderly on walks, offering them companionship and comfort.

Currently, "Xiaoxi" is undergoing trial operations. Its official operation in the community is expected in mid or late April. 

In Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, a restaurant is drawing crowds with its automatic cooking machines, which replace human chefs.

In the kitchen, the staff only needs to add ingredients and seasonings into the machine and adjust its settings according to the recipe. In just a few minutes, a delicious dish will be finished and served onto the diners' table.

"It tastes quite good, with rich flavors and a delightful aroma," a diner said about the machine-made dish.

In addition, a large display screen in the restaurant shows which dishes are being prepared and tracks the number of servings for the day, making it easier for staff to manage operations.

"Almost 600 restaurants, including many well-known restaurant chains in China, have used our cooking robots," said Huang Tianyong, head of a Sichuan-based cooking robot company.  

AI is also increasingly being used in medical services, especially in diagnosis and treatment. In major hospitals in east China's Zhejiang Province, AI technology is being applied in important areas such as outpatient clinics, patient wards, and pharmacies.

"AI technology can be integrated into service sectors like education, healthcare, and cultural tourism to offer consumers more convenient experience. It will also provide more personalized and diverse options for consumers. By empowering consumer-defined industries with AI to create new products, services, and business models, it will drive demand and foster the growth and advancement of the consumption sector," said Chen Xi, an associate researcher at Academy of Macroeconomic Research of the National Development and Reform Commission.