China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has issued a new action plan to integrate artificial intelligence with the software and IT services industry, aiming for a major leap by 2030. The plan, released on September 11 and reported by Xinhua, sets ambitious targets for the sector, including the full intelligent upgrade of key software and the emergence of new business forms such as smart programming, agent software, and intelligent services.
According to the plan, by 2028, the software and IT services industry should see a significant improvement in intelligence levels, with applications covering 20,000 large-scale software enterprises. The ministry also aims to implement 100 intelligent transformation projects for software companies, create 100 benchmark applications for agent software in key industries, and incubate more than five high-quality open-source projects.
Six Key Areas of Focus
The action plan outlines six major areas of work, including transforming software production, accelerating the intelligent upgrade of software products, and fostering new business models around agent software. Specific measures include supporting enterprises in using large models and intelligent programming tools to detect vulnerabilities, automatically identify defects, and assess risks in existing software.
The plan also calls for deep integration of AI with general industrial software such as computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided engineering (CAE), and electronic design automation (EDA). This move is expected to enhance the capabilities of these tools, which are critical for manufacturing and engineering sectors.
In addition, the plan encourages software companies to collaborate with terminal manufacturers in areas like smartphones, smart homes, and intelligent connected vehicles. This suggests that AI-powered software will increasingly be embedded in consumer and automotive products, potentially enhancing features like driver assistance and in-car infotainment.
Promoting Agent Software and Skills
To support the growth of agent software, the plan proposes building application stores and a repository of "skills" (Skills) resources. These agents, which can perform tasks autonomously, are expected to be used across various scenarios, including information processing, office collaboration, and life services.
The ministry also emphasizes the need to optimize human-machine collaboration in software enterprises, including job restructuring and skills training, as AI adoption increases. This reflects a broader effort to manage the workforce transition as automation and intelligent tools become more prevalent.
The initiative is part of China's broader push to lead in AI technology, following similar efforts in other sectors. For the EV industry, the plan could accelerate the development of intelligent software for connected vehicles, potentially benefiting companies like BYD, Nio, and Xpeng, which are already investing heavily in smart driving and in-car systems.
