China promotes coordinated development of data industry, artificial intelligence
China's data industry reached 6.78 trillion yuan (about 1 trillion U.S. dollars) last year, a figure highlighted at the 2026 China International Big Data Industry Expo in Guiyang. The expo, themed "Token: A New Path to Value of Data Elements," attracted 372 domestic and international companies and over 16,000 registered guests, including firms from Singapore, Morocco, and Canada. Liu Liehong, head of China's National Data Administration, emphasized the push for high-quality datasets to advance AI. The event showcased new technologies in areas like the token economy, computing power, and large model innovation, demonstrating how data and AI are transforming traditional industries, as exemplified by a unified digital system connecting hydropower, wind, and solar plants along the Wujiang River.
China's push to integrate data and AI into traditional industries, as showcased at the 2026 China International Big Data Industry Expo, is a significant development for Asia's industrial transformation. The focus on high-quality datasets, articulated by Liu Liehong of China's National Data Administration, is critical; the purity and professionalism of data directly impact the capabilities of large models, according to the World Data Organization. This emphasis suggests a national strategy to build robust data infrastructure as a prerequisite for advanced AI applications, rather than simply deploying AI tools. The real story here is less about the expo itself and more about the practical application of AI in sectors like energy. Guizhou Wujiang Hydropower Development Co., Ltd.'s use of AI to predict renewable energy fluctuations with 91.95 percent accuracy for wind and 94.54 percent for solar, improving forecasts by about 4 percentage points year on year, demonstrates tangible gains. This operational improvement in grid stability and clean energy utilization is a concrete example of AI's foundational role in industrial upgrading, as noted by Professor Duan Zhongxian of Guizhou University. For other Asian markets, this model of data integration and AI-driven optimization in critical infrastructure offers a blueprint for enhancing efficiency and sustainability.
