Why were these five cities selected as the National Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Application Pilot Zones?

According to the Hangzhou Daily, the relevant person in charge of the Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Economics and Information Technology introduced that Hangzhou will build a national artificial intelligence innovation and application pilot zone to give full play to the basic advantages of urban digital governance and advanced manufacturing, and further deepen the application of artificial intelligence technology in urban management, intelligent manufacturing, smart finance and other fields. Through reform and innovation measures, actively explore artificial intelligence governance models and paths that are in line with national conditions, promote the safe and reliable promotion of new technologies and new products, and strive to create a place for the output of urban digital governance solutions, the supply of intelligent manufacturing capabilities, and the first place for data usage rules.

According to the goals set by Hangzhou, by 2023, the overall development level of artificial intelligence in Hangzhou will reach the national leading and international advanced level, the innovation of the city's digital governance model will achieve remarkable results, the intelligent manufacturing enabling capabilities will be significantly improved, the data "collection-transaction-use" process will be effectively standardized, and the basic support capabilities of the public service platform will be more powerful. With the Hangzhou metropolitan area as the core, the artificial intelligence industry in the Yangtze River Delta and even the whole country will leap forward, and new forms, new models and new scenarios of artificial intelligence led by industry integration applications will accelerate their contribution.

To promote the implementation of the pilot zone, Hangzhou will focus on deepening exploration and practice in urban smart governance, enabling manufacturing transformation, and standardized use of data, so as to provide a "Hangzhou sample" for the innovative application of artificial intelligence nationwide. From the perspective of spatial layout, the Hangzhou West Science and Technology Innovation Corridor and Hangzhou High-tech Zone (Binjiang) will be the core to promote the coordinated development of six major parks, including China (Hangzhou) Artificial Intelligence Town, Xiaoshan Information Port Town, Xiaoshan Robot Town, Zhejiang University Science Park, Industrial Internet Town, and Dachuang Town.

The Guangzhou National Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Application Leading Area should pay close attention to the development requirements of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, develop core intelligent industries such as intelligent important equipment, intelligent software, and intelligent equipment, and focus on key technical directions such as computer vision and key application areas such as industry and commerce.

Not only the construction of the pilot zone, according to the 2021 Guangzhou Municipal Government Work Report, one of Guangzhou's work priorities this year is to implement the industrial chain and supply chain improvement project, which includes accelerating the construction of the artificial intelligence and digital economy pilot zone. In terms of strengthening and optimizing advanced manufacturing, the "smart manufacturing" project will be implemented to promote the construction of world-class advanced manufacturing clusters such as ultra-high-definition video and smart home appliances, smart networked new energy vehicles, and smart equipment. Implement the "smart travel" project, coordinate the development of smart cities and smart networked vehicles, accelerate the construction of GAC's smart networked industrial park, and promote the creation of a national Internet of Vehicles pilot zone.

He Renlong told reporters that Guangzhou, as a millennial trading capital and important industrial base, is the central city of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, and is also a hub that radiates to Southeast Asia and carries the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) international industrial chain. The pilot zone has an important leading and driving role in the entire region and the international coordination of the industrial chain and supply chain.
Chengdu is currently the first artificial intelligence pilot zone in the western region.

According to the document issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Chengdu National AI Innovation and Application Pilot Zone should be based on the locational advantages of the important hub and strategic support point of the "Belt and Road", seize the opportunity of the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin Cities Economic Circle, use AI to empower small and medium-sized enterprises as an important starting point, focus on advantageous industries such as medical care and finance, release a list of application scenarios, and promote the iterative development of technology and industry. In combination with the characteristics of the western region, we should actively explore and practice in policy, mechanism, and model innovation, create a dynamic industrial ecosystem and functional area, and radiate and drive the integrated development of regional AI.

According to data from the Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Economics and Information Technology, in 2020, there were more than 550 artificial intelligence companies in Chengdu, with an industry scale of 20 billion yuan, an increase of 83% and 67% respectively over 2019. According to Chengdu's plan, by 2022, the scale of Chengdu's artificial intelligence industry will exceed 50 billion yuan, driving the scale of related industries to exceed 500 billion yuan.