China targets 3,000 AI service providers in new MIIT push

China's industry ministry wants at least 3,000 AI application service providers in a national resource pool by end-2027, part of a push to commercialize large models and next-generation batteries.

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology set a target of at least 3,000 AI application service providers by end-2027 and unveiled a battery roadmap, seeking to accelerate adoption of large models and next-generation power cells across the economy.

The ministry said in a notice dated Aug. 27 that it would build a national pool of AI service providers, with more than 2,000 by end-2026 and at least 3,000 by end-2027, according to the document. The pool would group providers that understand industry-specific bottlenecks, AI technologies and security risks and can deploy and operate systems in complex scenarios.

Provinces hosting national AI innovation pilot zones must each contribute at least 100 providers by end-2027, the ministry said. It will encourage first-purchase and risk-compensation models for large language models, AI agents and token-based services, and support overseas expansion through Belt and Road, BRICS and China-ASEAN cooperation platforms. Regional industry authorities must submit their provider rosters to the ministry by Dec. 1.

The policy aims to turn AI into standardized, modular products that lower integration barriers for businesses, while "computing vouchers" tied to national computing network hubs would cut costs. The ministry also wants providers to embed cybersecurity, data protection and ethics requirements across the full development and deployment cycle, shifting from reactive to preventive controls.

Battery Roadmap Targets Recycling, New Applications

In a separate 2026-2030 green-industry roadmap, the ministry called for faster deployment of next-generation power batteries, automotive-grade chips and vehicle operating systems, while expanding new-energy heavy trucks in long-haul and short-distance transport, urban construction logistics, mines and ports.

Higher-capacity lithium batteries with improved safety, longer lifespans and greater tolerance for varied weather should be deployed more widely in low-altitude aircraft, intelligent robots, electric ships, construction machinery and new-energy agricultural equipment, the ministry said. Energy-storage systems should play a larger role in supporting power generation and stabilizing electricity grids.

By 2030, recycled lithium, cobalt and nickel recovered from retired power batteries should account for 10 percent to 15 percent of the resources required for power-battery production, the ministry said, as industrial carbon dioxide emissions target a peak. The twin policies signal Beijing's intent to deepen AI monetization across state-directed industries while shoring up a battery supply chain that underpins its electric-vehicle and clean-energy ambitions, a dynamic global investors tracking Chinese tech and energy equities will watch closely.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.