(Yicai) Aug. 27 -- Shares of multiple artificial intelligence funds and companies rose after China's cabinet released a guideline on deepening the implementation of the 'AI plus' initiative, promoting the extensive and in-depth integration of AI tech with various industries and economic and social areas.

China Southern ChiNext Artificial Intelligence ETF [SHE: 159382] closed up 1.94 percent to CNY1.732 (25 US cents) in Shenzhen today. The stock of AI app developers QiMing Information Technology [SHE: 002232] and Nancal Technology [SHA: 603859] surged by the 10 percent exchange-imposed daily trading limit to CNY23.5 and CNY53.02 (USD3.28 and USD7.41), while that of Kingsoft Office Software [SHA: 688111] rose 0.9 percent to CNY323.8 (USD45.22) in Shanghai.

After climbing earlier, the shares of Haitian Ruisheng Science Technology [SHA: 688787], Doushen Beijing Education & Technology [SHE: 300010], and Zhengyuan Zhihui Group [SHE: 300645] dropped 5.4 percent to CNY143.8, 6.4 percent to CNY8.95, and 6.5 percent to CNY22.3, respectively.

Implementing the AI Plus initiative includes three steps, the State Council announced yesterday. The first is for China to achieve extensive and in-depth integration of AI in six key sectors, with a penetration rate of over 70 percent for next-generation smart terminals, AI agents, and other applications.

Second, AI's collaborative innovation with biomanufacturing, quantum technology, the sixth generation of cellular networks, and other areas must be strengthened, the cabinet noted. Third, integrating AI with the industry, agriculture, and services needs to be a key focus.

In terms of improving consumption quality, China must develop smart, efficient, and companion native applications to enhance the quality of entertainment, e-commerce, housekeeping, property management, travel, elderly care, childcare, and other services, while exploring new consumption scenarios, including experiential, personalized, cognitive, and emotional.

Regarding AI in people's well-being, mainly involving education, healthcare, and culture, authorities, global partners, and those in political affairs should accurately identify needs, proactively plan services, and adequately handle the entire process.

The penetration rate of AI applications should exceed 90 percent by 2030, with the smart economy becoming a significant driver for the growth of the Chinese economy. China will enter a new smart economy and smart society development phase over the next ten years.

Integrating top design and market mechanisms can activate the innovation vitality of various entities and promote China's shift to an AI innovation powerhouse from an AI applications one, said Guo Tao, AI expert and angel investor.

If last year was the year of large language models, this is the year of AI agents, noted Zhou Hongyi, founder of online security giant 360 Security Technology, adding that AI agents have become an important form of AI application, with the latest guideline strongly supporting their growth.

Man-machine collaboration and co-creation between people and AI have become the new normal in companies' operations, said Yang Yuanqing, chairman of personal computer giant Lenovo Group.

This is the first year of commercialized implementation of LLMs and AI agents, according to Gao Lingyan, vice president of AInnovation. The trend will boost the manufacturing sector's software and hardware upgrades, expand upstream research and development and downstream sales and operations with higher added value, and reshape the value distribution pattern of the industry, Gao pointed out.

The State Council also attached great importance to AI security and control, mentioning "security" 12 times and having specific requirements for creating a new pattern of diversified safety governance and enhancing security capabilities.

Editor: Martin Kadiev