China Operates Over 10,000 Smart Factories as AI Supports 8,000 Healthcare Institutions
Artificial intelligence is gradually moving beyond experimental applications to become a practical tool in everyday work. Its use now spans manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare and services, helping automate complex processes and improve productivity.
On November 3, China's National Development and Reform Commission presented the latest results of AI adoption across the country's economy at a press conference in Beijing.
Wang Ruomeng, deputy director-general of the commission's Department of Innovation and High-Tech Development, said China had established more than 10,000 advanced smart factories using digital technologies and intelligent equipment to manage production.
In agriculture, artificial intelligence is helping farmers monitor fields more precisely and use resources more efficiently.
According to Wang, AI applications have significantly reduced the use of pesticides and fertilizers while helping agricultural production move beyond traditional practices that rely heavily on weather conditions and personal experience.
AI agents are also becoming increasingly common in finance, logistics and international trade.
These systems can independently handle specific tasks, including contract reviews, customs declarations, tax filings and insurance claims processing.
Their adoption is creating new working arrangements in which employees collaborate with intelligent digital assistants.
Significant progress has also been reported in healthcare.
More than 8,000 primary healthcare institutions across China have integrated cloud-based AI medical imaging services.
According to the commission, these technologies have improved diagnostic efficiency and expanded healthcare providers' ability to screen for diseases.
Over the next five years, China plans to further expand its “AI Plus” initiative, which aims to integrate artificial intelligence throughout the economy and society.
Priority will be given to dangerous, dirty, physically demanding and technically complex tasks.
The areas identified include mining, high-altitude operations and emergency disaster response.
The government also intends to develop national pilot-testing facilities for AI applications in manufacturing, energy, transportation and healthcare.
First introduced in a government work report in 2024, the “AI Plus” initiative seeks to promote the widespread integration of AI into industrial processes and everyday life, encouraging new forms of collaboration between people and intelligent systems.
As reported by SSTV+, China plans to expand AI adoption during the 2026–2030 period. More than 10,000 advanced smart factories are already operating across the country, while over 8,000 healthcare institutions use cloud-based AI services for medical image analysis.
