The 'Chengdu Measures for Promoting the Development of the Artificial Intelligence Industry' officially took effect on September 1, 2026, becoming China's first local government regulation dedicated specifically to the artificial intelligence industry.
Drafted by the competent administrative authority, the measures are designed so that institutional supply precisely matches the actual needs of the industry, truly "standing firm, working in practice and being genuinely useful," according to coverage of the rollout.
As a pioneer in local AI legislation, Chengdu's approach is watched as a template for other cities weighing how to give the fast-growing sector clearer rules on innovation, governance and application, complementing national-level AI policies and the broader 'AI+' strategy.
Image: Unitree G1 humanoid robot, an example of China's AI-enabled hardware. Source: Wikimedia Commons (CC0).
