Blueprint to Action Chinas Path to AI-Powered Industry Transformation 2025

Global growth in data volumes FIGURE 6 50.00100.00150.00200.00250.00300.00 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 202723.8828.0551.73 0.00Global data volume: 2022-2027 (zettabytes) The scale of data in China has achieved a CAGR of 26.3%, ranking first in the world China North America Other regions of the world30.0234.5561.75 38.0042.1873.34 47.8952.4187.73 60.8164.13105.33 76.6079.54128.16 Source: IDC Global DataSphere. Achieving data interoperability across diverse fields, stages and industries in China still presents a considerable challenge, however. For example, in order to overcome barriers to sharing data, local governments are promoting the creation of common data repositories and open source AI technology in partnership with industry, academia and research institutions. 2.2 From internet plus to data multiplier The annual volume of data produced in China will grow from 24 ZB in 2022 to an estimated 77 ZB in 2027 – a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26% that is unrivalled elsewhere.19 As AI technology continues to evolve, its interplay with data will become increasingly vital. China has unveiled a comprehensive data strategy that positions data as a cornerstone for national development and technological innovation.20 Central to this strategy is the launch of the National Data Administration, a government agency tasked with coordinating data-related policies, promoting the construction of data infrastructure and enhancing data governance across the country. This data-focused strategy also marks a shift in China’s approach to the digital economy – from the internet plus model, which focused on internet integration with traditional industries, to a data multiplier model that emphasizes data’s transformative impact across sectors. Blueprint to Action: China’s Path to AI-Powered Industry Transformation 13