China Unveils Ambitious 'AI+' Initiative, Envisioning Robot Companions by 2035

China's 'AI+' Initiative: A Decade-Long Blueprint

China has unveiled its ambitious 'AI+' initiative, a comprehensive national blueprint designed to propel the nation into a new era of development by 2035. The initiative, first unveiled in 2024 and with detailed guidelines released by the State Council in August 2025, aims for a multidimensional transformation across politics, economy, society, science and technology, and China's global standing. Senior officials and experts further elaborated on the initiative's strategic intent in the official journal E-Government on October 10, 2025.

The 'AI+' plan outlines a three-step roadmap for integrating artificial intelligence across various sectors:

• By 2027, China aims for broad AI integration across six key sectors, with smart devices and AI agents expected to be in use by more than 70% of the population.
• By 2030, the target is over 90% adoption, positioning the intelligent economy as a 'key growth engine' for the nation.
• By 2035, the initiative seeks to fully establish an 'intelligent economy and society,' providing strong support for realizing socialist modernization.

This vision is described by scholars as ushering in an 'intelligent civilization.'

Robots in Households and Beyond: A Transformative Vision

A central, and perhaps most striking, aspect of the 'AI+' initiative is the vision for robots to serve as 'companions and children' within Chinese households by 2035. This goes beyond mere automation, envisioning 'intelligent pets, humanoid robot butlers, and even AI companions and AI children potentially becoming commonplace.' The plan suggests that traditional family structures are expected to undergo transformation as AI becomes increasingly integrated into daily life.

Beyond the domestic sphere, the initiative projects a significant role for AI and robotics in other critical areas:

• Industrial Production: Robots are expected to revolutionize manufacturing by replacing human labor in factories and participating in complex production decision-making processes.
• Social Governance: AI is slated to enter government institutions to assist in social governance, enhancing public services, optimizing resource allocation, and providing personalized services in fields like social security, healthcare, and transport. Intelligent early-warning models are also planned for financial risks, disasters, and mass incidents.

The 'AI+' initiative encompasses six key areas for application: science and technology, industrial development, consumption upgrades, people's well-being, governance, and global cooperation.

Addressing Risks and AI Governance

The Chinese government and its advisors acknowledge the significant risks associated with such widespread AI integration. They are proactively planning to mitigate potential negative impacts, including mass unemployment, the erosion of family structures, intensified human-machine conflicts, ethical upheaval, and increased social inequality. The initiative calls for using AI to create new roles, upgrade existing ones, and promote human-machine collaboration, particularly in labor-short and high-risk jobs.

China's approach to AI governance is state-led, with the Cyberspace Administration of China playing a prominent role. Regulations such as the 'Interim Measures for the Management of Generative AI Services,' published in July 2023, emphasize adherence to socialist core values and address issues like fairness, transparency, and data protection. The nation aims to balance innovation with safety, developing technical standards and model evaluations to create guardrails around the technology.

A Future of 'Infinite Hope'

Experts forecast that by successfully implementing the 'AI+' initiative, China could emerge as an unprecedented 'land of infinite hope' by 2035. This ambitious plan represents a fundamental shift in China's development strategy, aiming to leverage artificial intelligence as a core driver for societal advancement and global leadership, transforming the nation into a fully intelligent economy and society.