The Role of AI in Industrial Upgrades

How is digital intelligence empowering industrial upgrades? How does “AI+” open new spaces for industrial development? In China, an emerging innovation hub, a vibrant picture unfolds as domestic and foreign companies accelerate the application of artificial intelligence across various scenarios, integrating it into the future industrial landscape.

At the recent Siemens Technology Conference held in Beijing, a wave of enthusiasm for the integration of artificial intelligence and industry surged. From industrial AI and digital twins to embodied intelligence, every technology was tangible. Entering the conference’s technology exhibition area, attendees experienced an immersive glimpse of future industry: enjoying the fun of a claw machine while using Siemens’ intelligent monitoring assistant, OWL, to understand how AI algorithms recognize targets, plan paths, and execute tasks precisely.

In Shouguang, Shandong, known as the “Vegetable Capital,” the use of AI in greenhouses is becoming increasingly sophisticated. AI algorithms act as “smart gardening assistants,” significantly enhancing labor productivity. With the addition of sensors for temperature, light, water, and fertilizer in greenhouses, planting data can be transmitted in real-time. Local grower Yin Jinhua stated that manual operation of equipment is no longer necessary; remote control of greenhouses can now be done via smartphone.

From April 20 to May 30, the 27th China (Shouguang) International Vegetable Technology Expo is held in Shouguang’s high-tech demonstration garden. This showcases all-weather field environment control equipment.

What sparks will fly when AI algorithms meet seed industry research and development? Cheng Lin, director of the R&D center at Shouguang Vegetable Seed Industry Group, leads a team to establish and improve an AI breeding acceleration warehouse, using big data platforms combined with AI for predictive breeding. She explained that with sufficiently rich data, it is possible not only to predict gene functions and market preferences but also to foresee potential diseases and achieve proactive prevention.

AI is not limited to agriculture; its application in transportation is also accelerating. In the Zhengzhou Economic Development Zone, a cute, smart connected pure electric bus named “Xiao Yu” passed by the reporters. Without a steering wheel or manual operation, “Xiao Yu” can autonomously change lanes, avoid obstacles, park, and charge. Currently, “Xiao Yu” is in mass operation in cities like Zhengzhou, Guangzhou, Chongqing, and Beijing.

Wang Kun, deputy general manager of Yutong’s Shenlan Power, mentioned that besides “Xiao Yu,” Yutong’s management platform, “Anruitong,” is also leveraging AI to enhance operational efficiency. This vehicle networking system aids fleets in intelligent operational management, monitoring vehicle routes, energy consumption data, and dangerous driving behaviors, while automatically generating daily reports to support efficient fleet operations.

At the intelligent dispatch center of Zhoukou Port, Henan Port and Shipping Group, every vehicle entry and exit, cargo stacking, and ship docking relies on the “brain” of the dispatch center for intelligent judgment. Previously, unloading a container required at least 3 to 5 people; now, one operator can control the loading of a ship remotely using just two small joysticks. The dispatch center also features a cockpit for a driverless container truck, allowing operators to control it from a distance.

Scenes of domestic and foreign enterprises accelerating the integration of AI into reality are supported by China’s vast market space and open innovation ecosystem. From the State Council’s issuance of opinions on deeply implementing the “AI+” initiative to the 14th Five-Year Plan’s emphasis on fully promoting digital intelligence technology empowerment, AI is becoming a “key variable” driving high-quality economic development in China.

By 2025, China’s core AI industry is expected to exceed 1.2 trillion yuan, with more than 6,200 companies; the download volume of open-source large models launched by Chinese companies ranks first globally, significantly lowering the barriers to AI usage. By the end of last year, the application rate of AI technology among large-scale manufacturing enterprises in China exceeded 30%, greatly enhancing the quality and efficiency of design, manufacturing, and quality inspection processes.

As Siemens’ board chairman, Roland Busch, stated, China is not only a key market but also one of the world’s important innovation centers for AI. Siemens chose to hold its first technology conference in China because many innovations first occur there, making it a primary market for launching and implementing new ideas.

An open and innovative China is providing a collaborative and win-win ecosystem for domestic and foreign enterprises to co-create a new landscape of “AI+”, continuously adding new momentum to its economic development and expanding new spaces for global economic growth.