SASAC's "AI+" Initiative: A Strategic Push for Central SOE Modernization
At a recent seminar for leaders of central state-owned enterprises (SOEs), China's State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) outlined a comprehensive strategy for industrial upgrading. A key focus is the meticulous formulation and execution of the SOEs' 15th Five-Year Plan, with digital-intelligent transformation positioned as a central pillar.
The "AI+" Special Action: Creating High-Value Applications
SASAC plans to deepen and expand the digital-intelligent transformation of central SOEs, with the in-depth implementation of the "AI+" special action serving as the core tactic. This initiative goes beyond basic technology adoption and aims to:
- Develop strategic application scenarios: Integrate AI technologies deeply into critical processes like R&D, production, supply chain, and management to address real operational challenges.
- Build high-quality datasets: Establish specialized, secure, and compliant datasets to fuel AI model training and iteration, supporting industry-wide intelligent upgrades.
- Fuse technology with operations: Move beyond point solutions to achieve an organic integration of digital-intelligent technologies across the entire business workflow, unlocking genuine efficiency and innovation gains.
The overarching goal is to leverage AI empowerment to solidify and enhance the industrial advantages of central SOEs.
Dual Focus: Green Transformation and Fostering New Industries
Alongside the digital push, SASAC provided clear guidance on upgrading traditional industries and cultivating new growth areas.
For traditional sectors, there will be a coordinated push for green transformation in key industries like steel, non-ferrous metals, building materials, petrochemicals, and chemicals. This mandates technological upgrades focused on energy saving, emission reduction, recycling, and cleaner production.
For emerging industries, a strategy of "categorized advancement, tiered cultivation, and long-termism" is emphasized. The meeting called for consolidating the results of previous renewal and launch actions, with the core objective being to accelerate the development of a new cohort of pillar emerging industries, building new growth engines for both the SOEs and the national economy.
This latest deployment from SASAC presents a clear dual-track approach: technology-driven advancement paired with green-led transformation. The "AI+" special action, as the technological core, is designed to work in synergy with green upgrades and new industry cultivation to forge the future competitive edge of China's central SOEs.