National Bureau of Statistics: The "AI+" initiative continues to unleash new economic momentum.

At a press conference held by the State Council Information Office on the 19th, a relevant official from the National Bureau of Statistics stated that since the beginning of this year, China has deepened and expanded the "AI+" initiative to help improve the quality and efficiency of the economy. It has strongly promoted the intelligent transformation of manufacturing. In the first three quarters of this year, the value added of digital product manufacturing above designated size contributed more than one-third to the growth of industry above designated size; the penetration rate of AI technology applications among manufacturing enterprises above designated size has steadily increased, and a number of relatively advanced dark factories, digital workshops, and intelligent production lines have been put into operation at an accelerated pace. It has strongly driven the development of modern services. In the first three quarters, the value added of information transmission, software, and information technology services grew by 10.4% year on year, with AI as an important driving force. It has strongly promoted the upgrading of consumption quality. In the first three quarters, retail sales of wearable smart devices by units above designated size grew by more than 70% year on year. AI is also transforming physical retail formats; in the first three quarters, the retail sales growth rate of unattended stores exceeded 25%. It has strongly driven investment and exports in emerging fields. In the first three quarters, investment in electronic circuit manufacturing, integrated circuit manufacturing, and information services grew by 58.7%, 14.2%, and 20.2%, respectively.