China - January 09, 2025 AI powers Chinese tech hub Shenzhen's smart city transformation (Voice_over) When AI is part of a city's infrastructure, even a simple streetlamp can see, hear, and think. Along this stretch of sidewalk, there are smart streetlights. They don't just light up the street; they've got all sorts of high-tech stuff like 5G base stations, cameras, and microphones. (Stand_up) Olivia He, Reporter: "These poles can give you voice alerts if someone's illegally parked or if people are littering. Plus, they keep an eye on traffic, air quality, and noise levels." "Now, in a city that never stops, transportation is a big deal. When you hop on the subway, you don't need a metro card or even your phone to pay. You just scan your face, and you're good to go." (Voice_over) Shenzhen Metro is leading the way with AI-powered digital workers. These digital assistants use speech recognition, AI, and biometric tech to help with customer service, making sure your experience is smooth from start to finish. (Stand_up) Olivia He, Reporter: "And while you're waiting for your train, make sure to look up! During rush hour, you will see real-time data on how crowded the subways are, so you'll know exactly where to stand." (Voice_over) The success of Shenzhen's smart transformation is closely tied to businesses that are focused on driving AI application innovation. To help with this, Shenzhen introduced the "Measures for Building Shenzhen into a Pioneer City for Artificial Intelligence" in December 2024. The goal is to make it easier for businesses by lowering the costs of research, deploying AI, and starting new projects through focused financial support. (Sound_bite) Lin Yi, Director, Shenzhen Artificial Intelligence Industry Office: "The new measures are all about making computing, models, and data more affordable for businesses. The next step is to lower AI deployment costs across industries. For example, 'model coupons' will help save on AI models, and the government is setting aside up to 50 million RMB each year to fund scalable AI solutions. In industrial sectors, up to 100 million RMB will go toward supporting AI-driven projects. When it comes to smart products, there's strong backing for AI hardware and software, like robots, AI PCs, and wearables, with rewards of up to 3 million RMB for top-selling products. To help startups, small businesses will get rent exemptions for 6 months to 3 years, along with full support in computing, data, funding, and talent. Plus, the government is teaming up with private capital to create a trillion RMB AI ecosystem and a 10 billion RMB fund for AI and robotics, all while providing comprehensive support for talent." (Voice_over) Shenzhen is home to over 2,000 AI companies, all aiming to make AI applications tangible and accessible to everyone. The introduction of the measures is intended to accelerate this process. [Restriction: No access Chinese mainland]