Opening Remarks: Building a "City of Whole-Domain Artificial Intelligence" | 2026 AI Partner · Beijing Yizhuang AI+ Industrial Conference

1. The Core Strategic Pivot: From "Hype" to "Hit the Ground Running"

The conference's central theme represents a critical evolution in China's AI development narrative. The opening explicitly states that the spotlight is shifting from flashy consumer-end (C-end) applications to the "roaring factories, silent operating rooms, and running humanoid robots"—the business and industrial end (B-end). This reflects a national drive towards "AI for Industrial Intelligence" or "AI+", where the primary value is measured not in app downloads but in enhanced productivity, efficiency, and solving tangible problems in the real economy.

• From Theory to Practice: The call to "Bring AI to the Frontline" signifies moving beyond theoretical debates ("high-platform discussions") to battlefield deployment. The "frontline" is explicitly defined as factories, hospitals, communities, and fields—every sector awaiting AI empowerment.
• Measuring Real Productivity: The focus is squarely on demonstrating "real productivity" of AI. This aligns with China's broader economic strategy of developing "new quality productive forces," where technology like AI is the core driver for upgrading traditional industries and fostering new competitive advantages.

2. Yizhuang's Blueprint: The "Global AI City" as a National Model

Beijing Yizhuang's positioning is not merely as a tech park but as an integrated, city-scale AI laboratory. This concept of a "Global AI City" is ambitious, aiming to turn the entire urban and industrial complex into an "experimental field and amplifier" for AI.

• Scenario-Driven Development: The core philosophy is "scenario-driven, grounded deployment." Instead of developing AI in a vacuum, Yizhuang focuses on creating and applying AI within specific, high-impact scenarios. The evolution from being the site of the World Robot Conference a decade ago to hosting a real-world robot half-marathon demonstrates this principle—products are tested and iterated in genuine environments, not just displayed in labs.
• Proven Track Record: The district's credibility is built on past successes, notably the Advanced Autonomous Driving Demonstration Zone established five years ago. Today, robotaxis are a daily transportation option for residents, proving the model's viability. This past success provides a foundation of trust and operational experience for the broader "AI City" vision.
• Infrastructure as the Backbone: The "Four Alls" framework outlines a comprehensive ecosystem strategy:
  • Full-Chain Native Industrial Layout: This involves building foundational infrastructure like the 5000P public computing platform (with plans to expand to 50,000P), extending computing to space-based networks, and integrating AI with frontier technologies like 6G and quantum computing. The establishment of national-level platforms (model evaluation centers, open-source communities) creates a fertile ground for collaboration and standardization.
  • Full-Industry Integration and Empowerment: AI is being woven into the DNA of Yizhuang's dominant industries—automotive (intelligent connected vehicles), healthcare (AI-driven drug R&D), and aerospace (AI-optimized rocket design). This isn't about AI as a separate sector, but as a transformative force multiplier for existing strengths.

3. National Endorsement and the Macro-Strategic Context

The speech strategically references recent visits by China's top leadership, including President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. This is highly significant:

• Political Backing and Alignment: These endorsements signal that Yizhuang's mission is fully aligned with the highest national priorities. President Xi's focus on "new quality productive forces" and Premier Li's emphasis on "fusing AI with advanced manufacturing" place Yizhuang's work at the heart of China's economic development strategy for the new era.
• From Local Project to National Blueprint: Yizhuang is effectively being showcased as a pilot project and potential model for nationwide replication. Its success would provide a validated blueprint for how a region can systematically harness AI to revitalize the real economy, which is a central pillar of China's current five-year plans.

4. Deeper Implications: A "Whole-of-Systems" Approach

The conference reveals a nuanced, systemic approach to AI industrialization:

• Ecosystem over Silos: The goal is to foster a synergistic ecosystem where "those building large models and those building intelligent hardware can all find upstream and downstream partners here." This recognizes that AI deployment requires a mature supply chain and collaborative network, not just isolated breakthroughs.
• Long-Term Investment Horizon: References to a decade-long robotics heritage and five-year autonomous driving groundwork underscore that this is a long-term, patient strategy. Building an "AI City" requires sustained investment in infrastructure, talent, and policy stability.
• The "Frontline" Metaphor: The repeated use of "frontline" and "battlefield" metaphorically frames the work as a serious, mission-critical endeavor. It implies challenges and competition but also conveys a sense of collective purpose and national mobilization in the global technological race.

In conclusion, the 2026 Yizhuang AI+ Industry