Rapid Growth: Over 4,500 AI Companies Emerging in China

In recent years, China has experienced remarkable advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), significantly enhancing its economic and social development. The nation currently boasts 421 national-level smart manufacturing demonstration factories and more than 10,000 provincial-level digital workshops and smart factories, with over 4,500 AI companies actively operating.

At the 2024 World Intelligent Industry Expo held at the National Exhibition Center in Tianjin, experts emphasized that China’s AI landscape is entering a transformative phase, ushering in the intelligent era. Wan Gang, President of the China Association for Science and Technology, highlighted the rapid progress in AI, showcasing diverse applications and improving industrial ecosystems that merge general and specialized AI. The shift from perceptual intelligence to cognitive intelligence is accelerating, with AI technologies increasingly integrating into physical environments.

Wu Chaohui, Deputy Director of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, noted that AI will revolutionize collaboration within industries, reshape regional economic growth, and redefine national competitive advantages. Looking ahead, experts underscored China's significant benefits for AI development, including a vast market, rich data resources, and varied application scenarios. They urged the nation to capitalize on global AI opportunities by strengthening fundamental research, promoting diverse product implementations, and creating an innovative ecosystem that links production with research, driving continuous economic and social progress.

Co-hosted by the municipal governments of Tianjin and Chongqing, this expo marks a significant collaboration between the two cities’ global smart industry platforms. Themed "Smart Innovation for a Dynamic Future," the event features a sprawling exhibition area of 100,000 square meters, divided into ten major zones, including AI, intelligent connected vehicles, and smart manufacturing. More than 550 companies and institutions are participating, showcasing top global enterprises and leading Chinese smart technology firms alongside prominent universities.