Li Qiang Calls for Deeper Integration of AI and Advanced Manufacturing

Artificial intelligence is becoming central to China’s industrial strategy. During a May 2026 inspection tour in Beijing—including visits to Xiaomi’s electric‑vehicle factory and the Humanoid Robot Innovation Centre—Chinese Premier Li Qiang emphasized that deeper integration between AI and advanced manufacturing is critical for the country’s next phase of economic growth.

His message was clear: AI‑powered factories and intelligent robots are expected to reshape how products are designed, built, and delivered, while also helping China counter slowing domestic demand and rising global competition.

AI Is Reshaping Manufacturing

Li said that artificial intelligence is “rapidly integrating with advanced manufacturing” and is already transforming production models and industrial structures. During the tour, he called for broader adoption of AI technologies throughout the entire manufacturing process—from research and development to production, quality control, and after‑sales services.

The goal is to build smarter and more responsive industrial systems that can increase efficiency and better meet both consumer and industrial demand. Enterprises, he said, should be supported in upgrading their full industrial workflows using AI‑enabled tools and data systems.

Intelligent Robots as a Key Industrial Platform

A major focus of the visit was the role of intelligent robots, particularly humanoid robots and embodied AI systems being developed by startups at the Beijing innovation center.

Li described intelligent robots as a key carrier for combining AI with advanced manufacturing, stressing the importance of advancing:

• Core components and complete robot systems
• Intelligent decision‑making capabilities
• Advanced control systems
• Breakthroughs in fundamental research and key technologies

By strengthening these areas, China aims to accelerate the deployment of robots in real industrial settings, particularly in manufacturing environments where automation can improve efficiency and consistency.

Expanding AI Across the Industrial Process

Beyond robotics, Li urged companies to deploy AI across every stage of the manufacturing lifecycle, including:

• Product design and R&D
• Production planning and factory operations
• Quality inspection and process optimization
• Supply chain and operations management
• Customer service and after‑sales support

Applying AI at this scale is intended to transform factories into data‑driven production systems capable of faster innovation cycles and improved productivity.

Creating New Economic Growth Drivers

China’s push for AI‑powered manufacturing is closely tied to broader economic strategy. Officials view advanced manufacturing and robotics as new sources of growth at a time when the economy faces weaker domestic demand and external economic pressures.

According to policymakers, integrating AI into industry could help:

• Increase productivity and manufacturing efficiency
• Accelerate industrial upgrading
• Speed up commercialization of emerging technologies
• Create new investment opportunities and higher‑value products

These outcomes are expected to generate “new growth momentum and competitive advantages” for China’s economy.

Leveraging China’s Industrial Ecosystem

Li also pointed to structural advantages that China believes will help scale AI‑driven manufacturing more quickly than many competitors. These include:

• A large domestic market
• Comprehensive industrial supply chains
• Abundant real‑world application scenarios
• Government policy tools that support technology deployment

He encouraged government agencies and state‑owned enterprises to open more real‑world testing environments and support early adoption through equipment‑upgrade programs and other policy incentives.

The Bigger Picture

The inspection tour highlighted how China is positioning AI‑enabled factories and intelligent robots as core pillars of future industrial development. By embedding AI deeply into manufacturing, policymakers hope to upgrade traditional industries, expand new technology sectors, and maintain global competitiveness in advanced production.

The visits to Xiaomi’s EV factory and the Humanoid Robot Innovation Centre offered a preview of that strategy in practice—factories where AI systems, robotics, and industrial data converge to shape the next generation of manufacturing.