Xi Jinping calls AI ‘epoch-making’ as China pushes innovation strategy – but flags risks

President Xi Jinping has stressed the need to advance indigenous technology – particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI) – in his first formal meeting of the year with ministers and provincial officials, as the world’s second-largest economy pushes innovation-led growth.His message was clear: Beijing would redouble efforts to break development bottlenecks through a “whole-of-nation” approach – a year after start-ups like DeepSeek stunned the world and shone a spotlight on China’s tech industry.“In this wave of technological revolution, frontier technologies such as AI, quantum computing and biotech are emerging. Among them, AI is the most eye-catching,” he said, according to a report by state-run news agency Xinhua.“[AI] is considered the next epoch-making technological transformation, comparable to the changes brought about by the steam engine, electricity and the internet.”Xi’s focus aligns with Beijing’s broader strategy, including his push to foster “new productive forces” to sustain growth over the coming years and break the United States’ chokehold on certain technologies, including those in the AI sector and cutting-edge chips.“Currently, technological innovation is advancing, with new things emerging. Whenever we are at a major historical juncture, the party always calls on members to strengthen study,” Xi told the study session at the Central Party School on January 20, reported by Xinhua on Saturday.The Communist Party leadership traditionally holds such sessions at the start of each year to outline priorities for senior officials.