At a press conference held by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) on September 11th, details were provided regarding the implementation plan for the "AI plus Software" special action initiative. The focus of the discussion was on the transformative impact that intelligent software services will bring, with industry leaders weighing in on the fundamental shift in how software value is delivered.
According to Lyu Weifeng, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the China Software Industry Association, the move towards intelligent software services represents a significant departure from traditional models. The core change involves a transition from simply selling a product to providing continuous service and operational capabilities, where value is derived from long-term engagement rather than a one-time transaction. This evolution is giving rise to new paradigms such as "model-as-a-service" and "agent-as-a-service," fundamentally altering the industry's value proposition.
The new implementation plan sets ambitious targets for the year 2030, aiming for a complete integration of AI with the software and IT services sector. The overarching goals include a full-scale intelligent upgrade of key software systems, with new business forms like intelligent programming, agent software, and intelligent services becoming primary growth drivers. Furthermore, the plan aspires to establish internationally influential open-source communities and industrial clusters, positioning China's software industry at the forefront of the global value chain.
To achieve these objectives, the plan outlines a comprehensive strategy with three key areas of focus. The first area involves innovating the service model itself by encouraging software companies to develop end-to-end intelligent application service chains based on large models and agent technology. This includes a push for both consumer-level services that are accessible and user-friendly, creating a virtuous cycle of scale application and technological advancement, and highly specialized services for vertical sectors to enhance efficiency and quality in high-value scenarios.
The second strategic direction is to cultivate and strengthen the market players within the intelligent software service ecosystem. This will involve a classified and graded approach to nurturing digital transformation service providers for the manufacturing sector, guiding them towards roles as AI application service providers. A specific support plan for AI-driven small and medium-sized enterprises is also in place, with a focus on fostering new, lightweight, and specialized service entities, including the growth of specialized and sophisticated "little giant" enterprises. Local governments are being encouraged to establish innovation clusters, providing essential resources like office space and computing power.
Finally, the plan emphasizes the need to accelerate the practical deployment of intelligent software services, testing their effectiveness in real-world scenarios. This will be promoted through collaborations between software companies and major industry users to develop replicable solutions and facilitate demand matching for high-value use cases in sectors like manufacturing and finance. Public service platforms, particularly those aimed at SMEs, will be leveraged to offer low-cost, lightweight solutions, ensuring that the benefits of intelligent software services can be realized at scale across key industries.
With the implementation of this plan, a promising future is anticipated for intelligent software services. The expectation is that these new models will flourish, using high-value services to open up new avenues for industrial growth and ensuring that these technological benefits are distributed broadly and fairly across the economy.