12 articles · Updated · South China Morning Post · May 10
Economists say Beijing's "AI-plus" plan is likely to favour Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen over smaller cities and rural areas lacking talent, capital and innovative firms.
Experts including ING's Lynn Song and Oxford Economics' Liam Sides warn gains will flow most to areas tied to China's AI supply chain and strong technology clusters.
The trend could complicate President Xi Jinping's "common prosperity" agenda as China pushes AI to drive factory upgrades, scientific discovery and broader digital-economy growth.
As China's AI enriches coastal elites, can its 'common prosperity' policies save the nation's heartland?
Can China's state-backed, low-cost AI strategy outmaneuver US tech giants on the global stage?
With robots set to replace millions of jobs, will Beijing's new laws actually protect the Chinese worker?
The Uneven Rise of AI: China’s Push, Global Inequality, and the Future of Work
Overview
China is rapidly advancing its AI ambitions through the 'AI Plus' policy, building strong AI infrastructure, scaling intelligent products, and embedding AI into business and government. This national push gives regions flexibility to tailor AI measures, helping industries move toward rapid automation. As a result, China aims to boost productivity, increase the availability of smart products, and shift from traditional to modern development models. However, these benefits are not evenly distributed, leading to a growing domestic divide and new policy challenges. The report explores how these dynamics shape both China’s internal landscape and the global impact of AI.