Xi Jinping calls AI ‘epoch-making’ as China’s focus tightens on domestic tech — likens change to Industrial Revolution or the dawn of the internet

Chinese President Xi Jinping highlighted the significance of advancing AI during a recent meeting with ministers, labeling it as an "epoch-making technological transformation" akin to the Industrial Revolution and the early days of the internet. China's upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan, set to guide growth until 2030, will heavily feature AI as a key component of the country's strategy for development. Xi urged officials to address development challenges in the domestic tech industry through a comprehensive national approach, emphasizing the need for sustainable progress and integration of new technologies into existing sectors. Concerns over duplicated investments and excess compute power in idle data centers have prompted discussions on regulating growth and optimizing resources in China.