China Unveils New AI Integration Policies for Consumer Goods and Services

China’s government is aggressively pushing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) across various economic sectors. The Ministry of Commerce has announced a series of new policies to expand the application of AI in consumer products and services.

According to a report by state media CCTV, the Ministry of Commerce has prepared 17 measures focused on enhancing AI integration into households and businesses nationwide. In the consumer goods sector, the government aims to transform electronic devices from merely functional products into intelligent, AI-powered devices, while also accelerating the growth of a new market for humanoid robots.

In the services sector, the policies are designed to respond to the rapid penetration of AI, which is expanding from consumer retail into public services and lifestyle services. The government views AI as a solution to challenges that have constrained growth in the service sector, particularly high labour costs and low levels of service standardisation.

Lin Jian, Deputy Director of the Institute of International Trade Cooperation under the Ministry of Commerce, stated that the introduction of AI is expected to break through the barriers to service consumption that have been limited by high labour costs and low standardisation.