Technology-driven commerce: Smarter shopping, new experiences, more efficient delivery

The State Council Information Office held a press conference on Monday and introduced new measures to boost technology-driven innovation in commerce.

China has released new guidelines to promote the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and other advanced technologies in commerce, as part of efforts to upgrade consumption and improve commercial distribution efficiency.

These guidelines, jointly issued by nine government departments, including the Ministry of Commerce, outline 18 measures covering goods consumption, services consumption, commercial distribution, innovative business applications and policy support.

Meanwhile, AI shopping assistants, intelligent logistics, embodied AI, virtual reality and digital twins are set to unlock new commercial scenarios and foster deeper integration across commerce, tourism, culture, sports and health.

Technology empowers commerce, and innovation drives vitality. New technologies will become fresh drivers of development, injecting greater momentum into the high-quality development of commerce and trade. (Huang Fang, Lin Mengnan)