Guangzhou Sets Sights on Unified AI Computing Power by 2026

In a significant move to bolster its artificial intelligence sector, Guangzhou has outlined a clear legislative timeline. The city's AI Development Promotion Ordinance is scheduled for its third review and final vote by the municipal legislature in October 2026. The draft ordinance prioritizes computing power and data as core production factors, aiming to systematically address infrastructure constraints through top-level design.

A Phased Blueprint for Computing Infrastructure

The proposed legislation, currently in the consultation phase, designates the city's development and reform department to lead a multi-agency effort. This coalition, including departments for government data, industry and information technology, and planning resources, will chart a course for computing infrastructure development with defined short, medium, and long-term goals.

A key principle is integrating computing facility planning with power supply strategies—termed "computing-power coordination"—to ensure a green, efficient, and balanced distribution of resources. The infrastructure plan focuses on a three-tiered layout:

  • Supercomputing Centers: Serving as the foundation for basic research and major projects.
  • Urban Edge AI Computing Nodes: Deployed at the network edge to meet low-latency application demands.
  • Industry-Specific AI Computing Clusters: Built around key industrial sectors to fuel their intelligent transformation.

Creating a Unified Platform for Equitable Access

The cornerstone of the initiative is the planned development of a city-wide unified computing power coordination and scheduling platform. This platform aims to dismantle potential resource "silos" by interconnecting diverse forms of computing power, such as supercomputing and AI computing.

It will enable elastic scheduling and shared usage of these resources, allowing businesses to access computing power on-demand and reducing redundant construction. Furthermore, Guangzhou will explore establishing a market-based trading mechanism for computing resources, facilitating their efficient allocation through regulated transactions.

Together, these measures are designed to provide equitable, reliable, and accessible computing services for AI developers and enterprises, lowering the barrier to innovation and solidifying Guangzhou's "digital foundation" as a leading hub for AI industry growth.