In a bold declaration of technological ambition, Shenzhen has unveiled a groundbreaking strategy to integrate artificial intelligence into every aspect of urban life, signaling China's commitment to becoming a global technology leader.

The city's recently released 15th five-year plan, covering 2026 to 2030, outlines an extraordinary vision of embedding cutting-edge AI technologies across society, with the explicit goal of transforming Shenzhen into one of the world's most technologically advanced metropolitan centers by 2035.

Local officials are pursuing an innovative 'AI+' strategy that aims to permeate public services and commercial applications, with a specific mandate to bring advanced technological solutions to every household and industry sector. The Communist Party's Shenzhen municipal committee has crafted a comprehensive policy paper that presents AI not just as a technological pursuit, but as a transformative social and economic tool.

Dai Mingjie, a senior researcher at the South China University of Technology's Institute of Public Policy, highlighted the strategic significance of this approach. 'Shenzhen's AI policy statement represents a detailed implementation of national goals,' Dai explained, 'signaling a critical shift from pure technological advancement to a broader spectrum of application, particularly in manufacturing and commercialization—areas where China demonstrates considerable strengths.'

Analysts view Shenzhen's initiative as a crucial testing ground for Beijing's national AI strategy, positioning the city at the forefront of a new technological competition with the United States. By focusing on widespread AI integration and practical applications, Shenzhen is demonstrating China's approach to technological development: comprehensive, strategic, and oriented toward tangible societal benefits.

The ambitious plan underscores China's determination to move beyond being a technological follower to becoming a global innovation leader, with Shenzhen serving as a model for how megacities can drive national technological transformation.