Qingdao recently issued the action plan for “artificial intelligence (AI) + manufacturing” (2026-2028). According to the plan, Qingdao will continue to scale up capital input to help press ahead with the AI technology-driven technological, digital and intelligent transformation of enterprises in a comprehensive way, and strives to put into broad use three to five domestically influential industrial models in the manufacturing sector, roll out more than 10 high-quality knowledge corpuses and 50 high-end industrial AI agents, and popularize around 30 typical application scenarios by 2028 in an aim to grow itself into a demonstration hub for application of “artificial intelligence + manufacturing” in China.

As stated explicitly in the plan, Qingdao will adopt a categorized approach to securing breakthrough in five key aspects, namely, R&D and pilot testing, manufacturing, process optimization, supply and marketing services, and operations management in an effort to facilitate in full respects the development of the four key industries that comprise raw materials, equipment manufacturing, consumer goods and electronic information. The development of raw materials will promote intelligent upgrading of iron and steel, petrochemical industry and chemical engineering, and construction materials. In regard to equipment manufacturing, emphasis will be placed on broadening the application of AI in automobile, rail transit and shipbuilding industries. Consumer goods span from textile and apparel, food and beverage to pharmaceuticals. In the sector of electronic information, priority will be given to household appliances, intelligent terminals, electronic parts and components, and efforts will be made to spread such new modes as large-scale personalization, and metaverse platforms for pilot testing.  (Sun Xin)