China targets 3,000 AI service providers, steps up new battery push

China aims to cultivate at least 3,000 artificial intelligence application service providers by the end of 2027, and meanwhile, accelerate the development and deployment of next-generation power batteries, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said on Monday.

The ministry said it would establish a national pool of AI service providers, which would include more than 2,000 providers by the end of 2026, with the number rising to at least 3,000 by the end of 2027.

The goal is to build a group of providers that understand industry-specific bottlenecks, AI technologies and security risks and are capable of deploying and operating AI systems in complex scenarios, it said.

By 2027, China aims to establish an AI application ecosystem that connects technologies, services and industrial resources across the entire value chain and covers a broad range of application scenarios.

Notably, the country will also encourage companies and local governments to step up purchases of large language models, AI agents and token-based services while supporting Chinese AI projects expanding overseas.

It would promote the large-scale adoption of AI by cultivating providers capable of turning AI technologies into standardized products and services for businesses.

AI service providers will be encouraged to focus on frequently used, high-demand and replicable applications and package their technologies into modular and standardized solutions, the ministry said.

The aim is to develop a range of AI products and services that are small, fast to deploy, lightweight and tailored to specific needs, lowering barriers for companies seeking to integrate AI into their operations.

In addition, the ministry laid out recently China's roadmap for green and low-carbon industrial development during the 2026-2030 period, calling for faster technological upgrades and wider deployment of new energy vehicles, renewable-energy equipment and next-generation energy storage.

The roadmap calls for accelerating the application of next-generation power batteries, automotive-grade chips and vehicle operating systems, while expanding the use of new-energy heavy trucks in long-haul and short-distance transportation, urban construction logistics, mines and ports.

China will also step up development of higher-capacity lithium batteries with improved safety, longer lifespans and greater ability to operate under different weather conditions, the ministry said.

Such batteries should be deployed more widely in low-altitude aircraft, intelligent robots, electric ships, construction machinery and new-energy agricultural equipment, while energy-storage systems should play a larger role in supporting power generation and stabilizing electricity grids.

By 2030, China expects the structure of its industries and energy consumption to improve further, while carbon dioxide emissions from the industrial sector are targeted to peak, according to the plan.

The government also wants recycled materials to play a bigger role in China's enormous battery supply chain. Lithium, cobalt, nickel and other metals recovered from retired power batteries should account for 10 percent to 15 percent of the resources required for power-battery production by 2030, the ministry said.