The state takes action, and the whole nation undergoes reconstruction: AI+ has truly arrived.

2024 was the "Year of GPT", and 2025 will witness a great leap forward for AI.

However, while countless people were still watching from the sidelines, the Chinese government took action.

On the evening of August 26th, the "Opinions on Deeply Implementing the 'Artificial Intelligence +' Initiative" were officially released. Without a massive marketing campaign or lengthy news reports, it quietly went viral in the technology, investment, and startup circles.

This is not just a piece of paper; it is a national strategic blueprint with a timeline, a clear direction, and specific implementation tasks.

If you remember the "Internet +" initiative in 2015, you'll understand what this means. Back then, many people didn't understand the significance of that guiding document and thought that "opening an online store" or "developing an app" was nothing special. A few years later, platforms like Didi, Meituan, and Pinduoduo emerged, fundamentally reshaping our way of life and completely transforming the employment structure, business models, and wealth distribution.

Today, the "Artificial Intelligence +" initiative represents a more profound transformation of the era. It aims to change not only how you order food but also how you work, communicate, live, and even think and perceive the world.

This is not an abstract narrative about AI or a future concept on a PowerPoint presentation. It clearly outlines a timeline:

In three years, AI will be as ubiquitous as WeChat Pay is today.

In five years, AI will become the main engine driving the Chinese economy.

In ten years, AI will form the underlying operating system for the entire society.

You may not care about technology, but technology won't bypass you.

This is a game that involves everyone.

Those who can get on board the fastest will be able to find new identities, jobs, and opportunities, and even reap the benefits of the era in this significant reshuffle.

So, the questions arise: What exactly is the "Artificial Intelligence +" initiative? How is it fundamentally different from the "Internet +" initiative? What does it mean for ordinary people? Where are the future opportunities hidden?

Let's start with these three questions and understand the new chapter of AI that China is about to embark on.

I: It's Not the Next "Internet +", but the Awakening of a New Species

Ten years ago, the "Internet +" initiative was a revolution centered around "connection".

It moved people, goods, and services from offline to online, using algorithms for matching and platforms as intermediaries to make information more symmetric and transactions more efficient. It didn't change the food itself, but it changed how we order takeout; it didn't revolutionize taxis, but it made it easier for empty taxis to find passengers; it didn't rewrite the supply chain, but it enabled sellers in small counties to sell products to buyers thousands of kilometers away.

Back then, companies like Meituan, Didi, and Pinduoduo were essentially "connectors". One connected you with restaurants, one connected you with drivers, and one connected you with affordable products. The platforms acted as bridges and collected fees, with traffic being the toll.

The keyword was "connection".

But today, it's the turn of the "Artificial Intelligence +" initiative, and the keyword has changed to "empowerment".

This is not about moving the old world online. Instead, it uses AI, the "super brain", to equip every process, every position, and every product with an "intelligent center".

Let me give you an example to illustrate the difference.

In the past, it was "Internet + manufacturing". A factory received an order for 100,000 door handles. The factory manager opened the ERP system to arrange production, allocate manpower, and purchase raw materials. Workers operated the machines, and quality inspectors checked the products. Every step relied on process control. The role of Internet technology was to speed up information flow and make scheduling more efficient.

With the "Artificial Intelligence +" initiative, the whole scenario has changed:

During the design phase, an engineer gives an instruction to the AI: "I need a door handle that is 30% lighter, 50% stronger, and has the same cost as the current one." The AI generates hundreds of optimized design drawings within minutes. One of them has a hollow internal structure similar to a bird's bone, with a strength-to-weight ratio far superior to that designed by the human brain.

During the production phase, the drawings are directly sent to the fully automated production line. Robots 3D print the parts, and the AI vision system monitors every product, making it easy to detect any defects. Even if the noise level of a machine tool increases by 0.01 decibels, the AI can immediately determine that there is an abnormality in the bearing, predict that it will break down in 70 hours, and automatically place an order for spare parts.

During the maintenance phase, the AI doesn't wait for problems to occur before taking action. Instead, it actively predicts and schedules in advance, turning "firefighting" into "prevention".

There is no one telling it what to do. It makes its own judgments, optimizations, and executions.

It's not about "faster processes", but about "machines that can think".

This kind of intelligent manufacturing is not about enabling people to give instructions more quickly. Instead, it makes machines become your most reliable "external brain".

Now, let's look at agriculture.

What is "Internet + agriculture"? Sensors tell you that the soil is dry or the temperature is high, and farmers can remotely click an irrigation button on an app. Information becomes more transparent, and operations become more convenient.

"Artificial Intelligence + agriculture" is completely different.

Satellites take pictures from the sky, and hyperspectral cameras detect a decrease in the reflectance of leaves in three acres of land in the southeast corner. The human eye can't detect this, but the AI can identify it as an early sign of nitrogen deficiency. It can not only observe but also calculate. Based on weather forecasts, soil composition, and the crop cycle, it recommends sending an unmanned fertilization vehicle to precisely replenish fertilizer between 8 pm and 9 pm, with the right amount.

Farmers don't even need to leave their homes.

The AI can handle tasks such as seed selection, land cultivation, pest control, and disease diagnosis.

Agriculture is no longer just about "depending on the weather". Instead, it's about "making decisions together with AI".

These are not just imaginations but things that are being encouraged by policies.

The document proposes to "deeply promote the integrated development of the new generation of artificial intelligence and agricultural and rural modernization", support the full - process intelligence of "intelligent irrigation, intelligent sowing, and intelligent pest control", and develop "smart farms" and "AI agricultural service platforms".

Let's take education as another example.

In the past, "Internet + education" meant that you could watch courses taught by famous teachers online, with the ability to play on demand and replay, which was more convenient than traditional offline teaching.

With "Artificial Intelligence + education", every child will have a personalized AI teacher. It knows where you are stuck in a particular knowledge point and can explain it in your favorite way, whether it's through animations, games, or stories. It can simulate your cognitive path, provide precise teaching, and customize learning plans for each individual, turning the ideal of "teaching students according to their aptitude" into a reality.

What used to be called information - based teaching is now called intelligent companionship.

This is also the biggest difference between "Artificial Intelligence +" and "Internet +". It's not about addition but multiplication; it's not about connecting resources but reconstructing capabilities; it's not about creating channels but changing the underlying logic.

The "Internet +" initiative was a revolution in efficiency, while the "Artificial Intelligence +" initiative is a revolution in productivity.

One is about connecting the world, and the other is about reinventing the world.

So, you'll notice that the document doesn't just say "empowering industries with AI". Instead, it directly proposes to "promote the formation of a new growth pole led by the intelligent economy", aiming to make AI itself the next industrial mainstay, economic growth point, and technological high - ground in China.

In the future, AI will no longer be just a "plug - in" but the core engine of the entire system.

The world of "AI - native" is gradually approaching us.

II: The Country Has Drawn a Roadmap; We Just Need to Keep Up

The "Artificial Intelligence +" opinions not only outline directions and principles but also draw a clear three - stage "roadmap", which is quite rare.

It clearly indicates when you should start using AI, when society will undergo large - scale transformation, and when the economy will be driven by it.

First Stage: Full Popularization by 2027

The document states that "by 2027, the penetration rate of applications such as intelligent terminals and agents will exceed 70%".

What does this mean? It means that AI tools that currently seem novel, complex, or even incomprehensible to you, such as AI assistants, AI employees, and various vertical agents, will become basic equipment used by everyone in three years, just like smartphones and WeChat Pay.

Just as we used cash in 2015 and by 2018, even elderly people in the vegetable market were scanning QR codes, the popularization of AI is following a similar trajectory.

What does a 70% penetration rate mean? It means:

• Whether you're a civil servant, a worker, a self - employed individual, or a media person, you'll have an AI "partner" by your side.

• You'll use AI for writing materials, taking meeting minutes, and all customer service will be provided by AI. In factories, AI will be the most diligent worker.

• AI will not only participate but be the default option in activities such as grocery shopping, seeing a doctor, taking care of children, and managing finances.

This is also one of the core goals proposed in the document: "Significantly improve the integration and application depth of artificial intelligence in key industries and fields."

In simple terms, the country no longer regards AI as just a laboratory technology but aims to make it an integral part of everyone's life.

Moreover, achieving full popularization in three years is an unprecedentedly fast pace.

It's more like an "execution order" than a "long - term vision".

Second Stage: A Complete Turnaround by 2030

By 2030, the document sets two key goals: "The application penetration rate will exceed 90%", and "the intelligent economy will become an important growth pole for China's economic development".

A 90% penetration rate means that AI will become an infrastructure as essential as water, electricity, and the Internet. You'll rely on it just as you rely on mobile phone signals and Wi - Fi today.

Imagine this: When you go to apply for a certificate, an AI government affairs assistant will handle everything for you; when you see a doctor, AI will help you identify health risks in advance; when you're engaged in design, writing a proposal, or hosting a live stream, there will always be an AI to support you.

AI will no longer be a sign of "being advanced if you can use it". Instead, you'll be left behind if you can't use it.

More importantly, the statement that the intelligent economy will become a growth pole is significant.

In the past three decades, China built its economy on manufacturing and relied on real estate for growth, and the Internet brought a wave of consumer - level dividends. So, where is the next growth engine?

Now, the answer is clear: AI itself is an industry and a new "economic form".

It's not as simple as "AI helping us with some tasks" as you might think.

It will bring new jobs, new companies, new industry ecosystems, and new business models.

The document for the first time proposes to "systematically promote the formation of new impetus for the intelligent economy", clearly elevating the AI industry from a "technical tool" to the "core driving force of the national economy".

Note that this is the first time China has officially positioned the "intelligent economy" as a growth engine at the national strategic level in a central document.

This means that a large part of future technology investment, industry guidance, and policy resources will be focused on the "next - generation economic form" centered around AI.

Third Stage: A Complete Reconstruction by 2035

The document uses a strong expression: "Fully enter a new stage of development of the intelligent economy and intelligent society."

This is not just about changes in industries. Instead, the entire social form will be deeply reshaped by AI.

The subtext is that laws, ethics, education, governance, and culture will all undergo a transformation in "synergy with AI".

For example:

• Education will become AI - personalized learning tailored to each individual.

• Healthcare will involve "full - life - cycle health management" with an AI doctor always by your side.

• Public governance will feature a "predictive city brain" that automatically adjusts traffic lights, issues disaster warnings, and allocates resources.

• The way we work, the occupational structure, and the way people interact with each other will all change.

We will increasingly coexist, collaborate, and even have emotional interactions with "non - human intelligence".

By then, AI will not be just a tool but more like an omnipresent "super colleague", "virtual partner", or "digital social being".

Whether you're willing to accept it, whether you can use it, will determine whether you're still part of the "mainstream society".

This is not an empty threat but a real "social re - stratification".

From 2027 to 2030 and then to 2035, each three - year period represents a significant leap.

This roadmap is not a PPT from a technology company or a vision from an academic forum. Instead, it's a real acceleration that can be felt from top - level design to local policies, from investment rhythms to talent training, and from AI platforms to computing power infrastructure.

China is not aiming for a slow - paced development of AI but a fast and steady one.

It's moving from the laboratory to the factory, from academic papers to our daily lives, and from policies to you and me.

This time, we're not just standing in front of the AI trend waiting. Instead, we're being pushed into it.

Those who can adapt first will get a head start. Those who still doubt will miss out.

III: Six Directions, Six Entrances to Future Opportunities

To understand the scale of a transformation, we need to look not only at its speed but also at its scope.

This "Artificial Intelligence +" initiative is not just about integrating AI into a few high - tech scenarios. Instead, it covers all aspects, from scientific research to daily life, from agriculture and factories to education and healthcare.

The country has clearly identified "six key directions". It's not simply listing hot topics but telling you where the future opportunities lie in terms of scenarios, positions, startup entrances, and industry breakthroughs.

Let's take a look at each of them:

1: Artificial Intelligence + Science and Technology: Turning "Accidental Inspiration" into "Reusable Abilities"

In the past, scientific breakthroughs relied on geniuses and accidents. Newton was hit by an apple, Marie Curie took a bold gamble, and Alan Turing had a sudden flash of inspiration.

But with the advent of AI, science has entered an era of "computing power + models". Many processes that used to take 10 years of trial - and - error can now be completed in one year or even a few months.

• New drug development: AI can screen candidate drugs from millions of molecules and predict their synthesis difficulty, side effects, and pre - clinical reactions. Pharmaceutical companies can now make precise decisions instead of taking risks.

• Materials science: If you specify performance requirements, AI can build material models at the atomic level and design new types of metals or plastics that humans have never seen, which can be used in airplanes, cars, and electronic components.

• Astrophysics: Faced with a vast amount of telescope images and particle experiment data, AI can work 24/7, becoming the "super post - doctoral researcher" for scientists around the world.

This is the "new - quality scientific research productivity" that the country wants to activate.

It's no longer about individual heroism but "AI - assisted science" driving overall technological advancement.

2: Artificial Intelligence + Industry Development: All Businesses Are Worth Redoing with AI

This is where the most practical implementation scenarios lie.

Whether you're in manufacturing, running