The State Council, China's Cabinet, recently issued a national artificial intelligence development plan. This is a major step for its innovation-driven development strategy and making the country a global leader in science and technology.

The three-step plan clarifies the strategic objectives for China's new generation of artificial intelligence. By 2020, the overall level of China's AI technology and its use should catch up with the world's leading level, by 2025 there should be major breakthroughs in theoretical research and progress in building an intelligent society, and by 2030 China should be one of the major artificial intelligence innovation centers globally.

The plan advances six key tasks: establishing an open and synergetic artificial intelligence science and technology innovation system, cultivating a high-end and highly efficient intelligent economy, building a safe and convenient intelligent society, enhancing military and civilian integration in the artificial intelligence field, setting up safe and efficient intelligent infrastructure systems for the internet and big data, and deploying significant technology projects centered on a new generation of artificial intelligence.

To achieve these, China will need to overcome its lack of innovation in core algorithms, high-end chips, talent reserves and influential industrial chains, according to Vice-Minister of Science and Technology Li Meng.