China Eyes 3,000 AI Service Providers by 2027

To support in-depth implementation of the "AI Plus" action plan, China will cultivate AI application service providers and build a service provider resource pool, according to a special initiative launched by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

AI application service providers are enterprises or institutions that deliver services including consultation and planning, delivery and implementation, operation management, and security governance for AI solutions for the intelligent transformation needs of client entities.

The initiative will drive the establishment of a service provider source pool and help strengthen providers' capabilities in technological innovation, solution integration and delivery, and security and compliance. This will foster a strong cohort of AI application service providers with a deep understanding of industry pain points, a solid grasp of technology fundamentals, keen awareness of security risks, and strong delivery and operational capabilities.

By the end of 2026, the number of service providers in the national resource pool is expected to exceed 2,000. A well-structured, multi-tiered ecosystem with clearly defined roles and strong collaboration will take shape, significantly strengthening providers' ability to deliver solutions for complex scenarios. By the end of 2027, this number will reach at least 3,000, helping foster an AI application service ecosystem with full factor collaboration, end-to-end chain connectivity and full-scenario coverage.

The notice lays out four key tasks: establishing a service provider resource pool, elevating service supply capacity, advancing large-scale application, and strengthening support and guarantees for service providers.

The relevant departments are required to send safety risk information and risk events related to AI software and hardware products to the service providers, guiding them to incorporate management requirements such as network security, data security and ethical governance into the entire process of R&D, deployment and application.

It calls for increased procurement of services such as large models, agents and tokens. Regions with favorable conditions will develop comprehensive "going out" service systems. Leveraging cooperation mechanisms and platforms including the Belt and Road Initiative, BRICS and China-ASEAN cooperation, high-quality AI application projects will be promoted for overseas deployment.

Colleges and vocational schools are encouraged to build training bases together with leading service providers. Service providers are also encouraged to set up forward deployment engineer teams to work on-site with clients and ensure successful real-world implementation of use cases.

Source: Science and Technology Daily