China unveils 17‑step plan to boost AI‑powered consumer products and services

China’s Ministry of Commerce, together with seven other ministries, issued implementation guidelines containing 17 measures across five areas to deepen the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the consumer market. The plan calls for expanding the supply of AI‑based smart electronics, home appliances, wearables and service robots for elderly care, as well as applying AI in domestic services, tourism, hospitality and education. It also seeks to accelerate smart retail, enhance AI‑enabled e‑commerce, improve county‑level logistics networks and extend delivery services to remote areas. The guidelines promote the creation of AI‑plus consumption clusters and experiential centers, encourage public‑private sharing and rental of AI devices, and propose local subsidies for next‑generation smart terminals, all as part of the 15th Five‑Year Plan’s push for high‑tech consumption growth.