MIIT's "AI + Software" Action Plan Charts a Six-Year Roadmap for Industry Transformation

On September 11, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) formally issued the "Artificial Intelligence + Software" Special Action Implementation Plan. This document outlines a clear blueprint for the intelligent transformation of China's software sector, aiming to drive comprehensive upgrades from tools to services and from forms to ecosystems through deep integration with AI technologies.

Core 2028 Targets: Scale and Key Breakthroughs

The plan sets specific milestones for 2028, demanding a "significant improvement" in the overall intelligent level of the software and IT services industry. The focus is on achieving scalable and replicable outcomes.

  • Broad Enterprise Coverage: The application of intelligent tools and platforms will extend to over 20,000 large-scale software enterprises.
  • Foundation with Tools: Cultivate a batch of high-level intelligent programming tools and development platforms to serve as core infrastructure.
  • Focus on Critical Software: Achieve notable results in the intelligent upgrade of key software areas like operating systems and databases, implementing 100 intelligent technological transformation projects within software firms.
  • Emergence of New Forms: Accelerate the development of new software forms, notably "agent software," and establish 100 benchmark applications across key industries.

This indicates a profound, AI-driven transformation for both major software companies and critical software products in the coming years.

The 2030 Vision: Full Intelligence and Global Competitiveness

Looking ahead to 2030, the plan envisions a "new leap" in the integrated development of AI and the software industry.

By then, key software is expected to be fully intelligently upgraded. Intelligent programming, agent software, and smart IT services will evolve from supportive roles into core growth drivers for the industry. The ecosystem will become more open and mature, with the goal of establishing several internationally influential open-source communities and industrial clusters.

The ultimate strategic objective is clear: to enhance the innovative capacity and global competitiveness of China's software and IT services sector through this wave of intelligent transformation, securing a more advantageous position in the global value chain.

Three Key Directions for Industry Advancement

A closer look at the plan reveals three primary directions for industry advancement:

First, a shift in development paradigms. The transition from traditional manual coding to "intelligent programming" will see AI-assisted tools greatly improving software production efficiency and quality.

Second, the evolution of software forms. "Agent software" emerges as a key concept. These software entities with autonomous perception, decision-making, and execution capabilities are set to unlock new application scenarios in sectors like finance, manufacturing, and government services.

Third, an upgrade in service models. IT services will transform from maintenance and integration toward providing intelligent, high-value solutions. Developing a batch of industry-specific solutions and typical scenarios is central to this value leap.

The release of this plan signals that China's software industry intelligent transformation has moved from a phase of enterprise-led exploration into a new period of systematic, national-level promotion. For all software companies and developers, an era fundamentally driven by AI is now underway.