Eight Chinese departments call for more R&D on large AI models for industrial foundations
In short
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and seven other departments issued a plan for improving industrial foundation capability in the 15th Five-Year period. It calls for stronger R&D on general-purpose and industry large models and for combining industrial-mechanism models with agent decision models.
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The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and seven other departments have issued the Industrial Foundation Capability Improvement "15th Five-Year" Plan, CLS reported on 22 October. 36Kr and Yicai also reported on the plan. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Under the heading of AI empowering industrial foundation innovation, the plan says R&D on general-purpose large models and industry large models in the industrial foundation field should be strengthened. It calls for combining industrial-mechanism models with agent decision models and developing intelligence-native basic products. It also calls for nurturing new business forms such as model-as-a-service and agent-as-a-service. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The plan also calls for faster application of AI across product development, design simulation, pilot-scale verification and production operations. It aims to raise the level of intelligence in process management, analysis and forecasting, and decision execution, and to speed up innovation and iteration in the industrial foundation. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
The reports describe a policy plan, not a result, so its practical effect is not yet shown. Outlets stress its aim of applying AI across product development, design and production.
Key facts
- The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and other departments, eight in all, issued the Industrial Foundation Capability Improvement "15th Five-Year" Plan. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The plan says AI should empower innovation in the industrial foundation. [ 1 , 2 ]
- It calls for stronger R&D layout of general-purpose large models and industry large models in the industrial foundation field. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- It calls for combining industrial-mechanism models with agent decision models and developing intelligence-native basic products. [ 1 , 2 ]
- It calls for nurturing new business forms such as model-as-a-service and agent-as-a-service. [ 1 , 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Eight departments led by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued the Industrial Foundation Capability Improvement "15th Five-Year" Plan, which includes strengthening R&D on general-purpose and industry large models. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The plan calls for faster application of AI in product development, design simulation, pilot-scale verification and production operations. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- Which other seven departments signed the plan, and any targets, funding or deadlines. The documents name only the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and give no targets, funding or deadlines.