The recently concluded 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference signaled a clear industrial shift: the focus of AI development is moving from competition over large language models to practical, real-world applications. For Shandong, a province with a complete industrial system, vast amounts of industrial data, and broad application scenarios, determining how to develop a distinctive AI industry tailored to its local conditions has become a critical question for long-term growth.
Recently, the Shandong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) held its fourth monthly consultation meeting of 2026, focusing on "promoting the high-quality development of the artificial intelligence industry." CPPCC members, experts, and industry representatives gathered to share insights, exchange views, and offer constructive suggestions, turning the consultation into a working session aimed at solving industrial challenges.
"The end of computing power is electricity. Shandong has a prominent advantage in nuclear power resources, which can provide sufficient, stable, and low-cost electricity support for large-scale computing clusters. We should actively develop the 'nuclear power to computing direct connection' industry," said Wang Yingrong, a provincial CPPCC member, who directly addressed the issue of high computing costs. He suggested using dedicated transmission lines to supply clean nuclear power to the Yantai regional computing center, paired with a supporting pricing mechanism, to effectively reduce the electricity costs for computing enterprises.
The circulation of data elements also drew significant attention. "Only by clarifying core issues like 'who owns the data, what is its value, how does it flow, and how is it protected,' can we activate the value of data elements and empower the innovative development of AI," stated Zheng Fei, Vice President of the Shandong Artificial Intelligence Society. He recommended accelerating the establishment of a unified provincial data产权 (property rights) registration platform, using blockchain technology to provide legal "identity credentials" for data, and implementing a system for separating data ownership and usage rights.
"The usefulness of AI isn't about how impressive a model sounds; the key is whether it can enter the workshop, understand processes, meet demands, and solve real-world problems," said Liu Dejun, a provincial CPPCC member, whose remarks earned widespread agreement from attendees.
"Shandong is a major chemical province. The chemical industry has long research and development cycles and high testing costs. AI is precisely a powerful tool to break through these traditional bottlenecks," said Liu Yanhong, Chairman of Yantai Guogong Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. Based on industry practice, he proposed coordinating provincial computing resources to allocate low-cost computing quotas for vertical industry large models, and accelerating the construction of a chemical AI industry standard system to promote the large-scale application of AI technology in the chemical sector.
New business models and formats were also a hot topic among participants. Cui Zuo, a provincial CPPCC member and Vice Chairman of the Qingdao Municipal CPPCC, suggested building an "AI + entrepreneurship" collaborative system, lowering the threshold for starting businesses, and providing policy packages such as startup subsidies, computing power discounts, and open datasets based on the company's growth stage.
"As the country's only 'Capital of Small and Medium-Sized Machine Tools,' Zaozhuang City has over 400 companies that generate massive amounts of processing data daily, which holds immense potential for AI empowerment," said Zhang Bing, Chairman of the Zaozhuang Municipal CPPCC. He recommended focusing on breakthroughs in key AI technologies, cultivating a strong team of high-end, versatile talent, and promoting the application of intelligent technologies in specific manufacturing sub-sectors based on local conditions.
Financial support is a vital pillar for industrial development. Yan Hua, a provincial CPPCC member and President of the Shandong Branch of Bank of China, proposed deepening collaboration among financial institutions, building a cooperative model for information sharing and risk sharing, and customizing full-cycle comprehensive financing solutions for science and technology enterprises along the industrial chain.
"We must plan the development of the AI industry from a perspective that concerns the overall situation and long-term development. We need to solidify the foundation of computing power supply and data elements, promote the implementation of AI in diverse scenarios, and empower all industries. Continuous optimization of the industrial ecosystem is needed to gather wisdom and strength for the high-quality development of AI in our province," said Ge Huijun, Chairman of the Shandong Provincial CPPCC, who listened carefully to all sides and responded on the spot.
Within the meeting, ideas were pooled and consensus was built; outside the meeting, the focus shifted to implementation and accelerated progress. Following this consultation, the Provincial CPPCC will produce a series of outcomes, including consultation reports and research and investigation reports, which will be submitted to the provincial party committee and provincial government for decision-making reference.
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