AI Adoption in China's Key Manufacturing Processes Hits 34.2% in First Half of 2026
AI use in key manufacturing processes in China reached 34.2% in the first half of 2026, up 5.5 percentage points year on year, according to a report released at the World Manufacturing Convention in Hefei.
Artificial intelligence is spreading deeper into China's factory floors, with its use in key manufacturing processes reaching 34.2 percent in the first half of 2026 — a 5.5 percentage point increase over the same period a year earlier.
The figure comes from a report unveiled on Sunday at the 2026 World Manufacturing Convention, underway in Hefei, the capital of east China's Anhui Province. The study was produced by a research body under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
According to the findings, most Chinese enterprises have now achieved digitalization across research and development and design, manufacturing, and operational management. The report also noted that more than 10 percent of large manufacturing enterprises have begun using large AI models to drive business innovation.
The broader high-tech manufacturing sector posted strong gains in the first half of 2026, with added value rising 13.3 percent. Integrated circuit manufacturing and smart automotive equipment manufacturing each maintained growth rates of around 30 percent.
The convention in Hefei has drawn attention to advances in robotics and embodied intelligence, with an exhibition area showcasing humanoid robots, robotic dogs, and other automated systems. Demonstrations of humanoid robots directing traffic, assisting travelers, introducing museum exhibits, and working in hospitals illustrate the widening range of applications being explored.
The figures point to a manufacturing base that is increasingly integrating digital tools and AI-driven systems into core operations, even as adoption remains uneven across firm sizes and sectors.