China Has Over 56,000 Smart Factories and Plans a Deeper AI Push

China's top economic planning agency said at a press conference that the country's AI development speed and application scale now lead the world. AI has moved from labs into factories, farms and offices, with more than 56,000 smart factories built in the industrial sector alone. On job risks from AI, officials said they will strengthen monitoring and link social security with changing work patterns. They will also track misuse such as deepfakes and privacy leaks, better protect seniors and minors, and guide people against overuse and emotional dependence on AI. In the next five years, China will push AI use in mining, rescue work, manufacturing, energy, transport and healthcare, while improving policies to lower barriers for AI adoption.