Data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology reveals that in the first half of 2026, China's industrial output above a designated size increased by 5.4% year-on-year, with the industrial sector contributing over 35% to overall economic growth. The deepening expansion of "Artificial Intelligence Plus" has led to the adoption rate of AI technology among manufacturing enterprises above a designated size exceeding 30%. These figures not only reflect stable growth in the scale of China's industrial and information technology sectors but also signify a qualitative leap in their transformation towards intelligence and innovation. In this process, 人工智能 has become the core engine driving industrial transformation.
Simultaneously, digital infrastructure, represented by next-generation communication networks, is fully penetrating industrial scenarios, providing a solid foundation for this transformation. Together, these forces are accelerating China's industrial shift towards quality, efficiency, and dynamic changes, propelling it towards intelligentization. In the first half of the year, industries such as electronics, specialized equipment, general equipment, automobiles, and electrical machinery contributed over 50% to industrial economic growth. The value-added output of the integrated circuit manufacturing industry and the production of industrial robots achieved double-digit growth. Achievements like the C919 large passenger aircraft and the CR450 high-speed train highlight breakthroughs in national heavy equipment, all of which are inseparable from the synergistic support of AI and communication infrastructure.
The author believes that transitioning from "a good first half" to "a strong full year" and accelerating the pace of China's industrial transformation hinge on using 人工智能 to solidify the "new" foundation of the economy, turning "blueprints" into reality. To achieve this, all stakeholders in the industrial chain can focus on breakthroughs in three key areas.
First, consolidate the foundation and accelerate the implementation of next-generation communication network blueprints. It is recommended that relevant enterprises accelerate mechanism innovation in computing-network synergy and computing-electricity synergy, avoid isolated island-style infrastructure construction, and make computing power as accessible as water and electricity. Through inclusive computing power initiatives, they can empower small and medium-sized enterprises and narrow the digital divide.
Second, deepen application scenarios and drive 人工智能 towards practical depth. Currently, the adoption rate of AI in manufacturing enterprises still has significant room for improvement. All parties should adhere to the principle of "industries posing questions, science and technology providing answers." For enterprises, they can proactively open up production scenarios and collaborate with AI technology providers to tackle smart scheduling, visual quality inspection, and predictive maintenance. Research institutes and universities should closely align with industrial demand to accelerate the transformation of achievements. Industry associations and other organizations can take the lead in establishing benchmark case libraries, using "visible" high-quality projects to attract the entire industry to follow suit.
Third, focus on the long term, select the right path for the future development of the AI industry, and implement it steadfastly. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has proposed formulating a list of key technologies for future industries to identify high-potential future sectors. It is recommended that all stakeholders in the industrial chain not only "see the direction clearly" but also establish tolerance mechanisms and adopt a long-term investment approach. For cutting-edge fields such as embodied intelligence, brain-computer interfaces, quantum information, and biomanufacturing, efforts should be made to turn "test plots" into "high-yield fields," helping China maintain a leading edge in the future global technology competition.
The "mid-term report card" of the industrial and information technology sectors in 2026 demonstrates that China's economy possesses not only strong resilience but also vitality for the future. As long as it persists in pursuing innovation and winning with quality, and continues to excel in the field of innovation, China's industrial and information technology sectors will surely take more solid steps, injecting an inexhaustible driving force into high-quality development.
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