AI TRENDS | China Launches Drive To Cultivate AI Application Service Providers

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has launched a special campaign to cultivate AI application service providers, aiming to build a resource pool and accelerate large-scale AI deployment across industries, according to ETNet. The ministry said the number of providers in the national resource pool should exceed 2,000 by end-2026 and reach at least 3,000 by end-2027. It also wants provinces with national AI industry innovation pilot zones to have at least 100 local providers in their pools by end-2027. The notice calls for local authorities to identify AI application service providers and compile regional resource pools, which the ministry will consolidate into a national list and publish when appropriate. It also encourages providers to form integrated AI application service teams with upstream and downstream partners to deliver one-stop solutions. Local governments are asked to submit at least 10 such service teams, with each team led by one provider and including at least two upstream or downstream participants. The ministry also urged wider procurement of large models, AI agents and Token-based services, and said local authorities may use measures such as first-purchase support and risk compensation to promote adoption. The notice further supports links with national computing network hubs, interconnection nodes and the China computing platform, and encourages the use of policy tools such as computing vouchers to lower costs. It also backs joint training bases between universities, vocational schools and leading providers, as well as front-line deployment engineer teams to support implementation at user sites.