China launches new data pilots, tests token subscriptions

China is exploring new business models including token-based subscriptions and flexible pricing for data and artificial intelligence services, as Beijing seeks to turn its vast data resources into stronger drivers of economic growth.

Liu Liehong, head of the National Data Administration, said at the 2026 China International Big Data Industry Expo that authorities are studying new commercial models built around major use cases across the economy, including subscriptions tied to the value generated by tokens and payment based on results.

The National Data Administration will also launch a new round of pilot programs for data annotation across 32 cities, expanding their use in manufacturing, healthcare and transportation, Liu said.

Data annotation involves labelling raw information such as text, images and videos to train AI models. High-quality labelled datasets have become increasingly important as companies race to develop AI systems capable of handling specialized industrial and professional tasks.

The pilots will seek to tackle bottlenecks facing the data-annotation industry and accelerate the development of high-quality datasets tailored to real-world applications, Liu said.

In addition, China is also stepping up efforts to build a pipeline of talent for its expanding data economy. Multiple government departments will work together to improve university programs related to data as a factor of production and establish a more integrated training system spanning bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees, he added.