Shanghai's Ambitious Plan to Establish a Leading AI Industry Ecosystem by 2025

On Friday, the municipal government of Shanghai revealed an extensive plan designed to cultivate a world-leading artificial intelligence (AI) industry ecosystem by the year 2025. Known as the Implementation Plan for AI "Molding Shanghai," this initiative encompasses 22 strategies aimed at enhancing the city's AI capabilities. Among its ambitious targets are achieving over 100 Exa Floating Point Operations Per Second (EFLOPS) in computing power and developing approximately 50 specialized open corpus demonstration applications. Additionally, the plan outlines the establishment of three to five innovation accelerators dedicated to large models and the creation of various collaborative empowerment centers and vertical areas designated for model training.

Shanghai's vision includes constructing a super-large-scale autonomous intelligent computing cluster, developing a multi-tier corpus supply system, and establishing a hybrid training zone that combines virtual and physical environments. This concerted effort is set to stimulate the city’s innovative prowess in AI. In particular, there will be a strong emphasis on applying AI technology across critical sectors such as finance, manufacturing, education, healthcare, cultural tourism, and urban governance, thereby enhancing efficiency and intelligence in these industries.

Moreover, part of Shanghai's strategy involves attracting leading innovation teams and prominent scientists from both domestic and international arenas specializing in large model development. The city aspires to create a national experimental zone focused on nurturing exceptional talent in the AI field. Additionally, Shanghai aims to strengthen partnerships with global organizations, contribute to the development of international AI governance standards, and elevate its AI industry on the worldwide stage. This initiative comes in the wake of China's 2024 Government Work Report, where an "AI Plus" initiative was introduced, inspiring local governments to expedite the integration of innovative resources to advance AI technology and its related sectors. For example, Beijing recently promulgated the Beijing Municipal Action Plan for "AI+" (2024-2025), expressing a desire to lead in the establishment of an AI city and foster a globally significant hub for AI innovation and application.