China's AI industry is experiencing a strategic shift as competition moves from "competing on models" to "competing on delivery," according to industry analysts following the MIIT's new service provider cultivation initiative.
Artificial intelligence application service providers offer consulting, implementation, operation management, and security governance services around intelligent transformation needs. The MIIT action signals that the industry focus is shifting from technology research breakthroughs to scaled industrial deployment.
Veteran telecom observer Xiang Ligang said the action means AI competition is extending from single-model capabilities to industry understanding, system integration, and continuous operations. Whether models can enter real business processes and consistently generate value is becoming the new benchmark for AI companies.
DeepZero founder Huang Xiaonan said enterprises do not lack models; what is truly scarce are delivery-oriented service providers capable of connecting multiple models, multiple data sources, and business KPIs to push AI into actual decision-making workflows.
SenseTime and StartLux executives echoed that the industry is accelerating toward real-scenario scaled applications and outcome delivery, moving from project-based models to more standardized, reusable, and sustainable service models.
Source: China Finance Information Network
