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Arts & Communication Digital AI transformation of the Chinese art industry

innovation-driven development, ensuring the flourishing breakthroughs in digital technology innovation and
of business start-ups and improvements in productivity. international cooperation in this field. By 2035, China aims
In addition, science and technology became more deeply to dominate digital development globally by formulating
embedded in the economy, with breakthroughs made in measures to promote the high-quality development of the
core technologies across key sectors. digital industry and building an internationally competitive

In 2021, the Chinese government outlined the digital industrial cluster. This involves constructing a
“14 5-Year Plan for National Economic and Social national cultural big data system; forming a database of
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Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through Chinese culture; establishing several comprehensive digital
the Year 2035,” emphasizing the acceleration of digital cultural exhibition platforms; and developing new types of
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development and construction of a “Digital China.” This cultural enterprises, business models, and consumption
plan prioritized comprehensive digital transformation, patterns in the cultural industry.
reshaping production modes and fostering key industries The Chinese government has directed national-level
within the digital economy, including AI, virtual reality, and developments in AI since 2016. In 2022, the Ministry of
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augmented reality. It also aimed to establish general and Science and Technology, along with five other departments,
industry-specific open AI platforms. The 14 5-Year Plan issued the “Guiding Opinions on Accelerating Scenario
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states that “technology will be central to the development Innovation to Promote High-Quality Economic
of the cultural industries—technology will empower the Development through High-Level Application of Artificial
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development of the cultural industry, the development of Intelligence”. On July 13, 2023, the government issued
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new business formats will be strong, and culture will be directives regarding generative AI, which came into effect
deeply integrated with tourism, sports, commerce, rural on August 15, 2023, to promote and simplify the use of AI
revitalization, and other fields.” 57 for individuals and organizations. 4
In the same year, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism 4.2. Recent adoption and use of digiAI
issued the “14 5-Year Plan for Cultural and Tourism
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Science and Technology Innovation,” advocating for 2 For instance, the 13th 5-Year Plan (2016 – 2020) specified
cultural development through technological innovation AI as key for achieving economic growth and the 14 5-Year
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and promoting experiential technologies in the Plan (2021 – 2025) outlined a plan for continued state
cultural field. This plan encouraged the development of investment in AI. In 2017, the Government introduced a
technologies involving human–computer interaction vision for the development of AI in the Next Generation
and mixed reality, supporting the innovative application Artificial Intelligence Development Plan (新一代人工智
of intelligent technology in the culture and arts sectors. 能发展规划). The Plan outlined the national strategy of
The plan also proposed the development of intelligent using AI for socioeconomic development and creating an
tools to assist in creative processes and the creation of AI industry that positions China as the world leader in AI
cloud exhibitions and digital art, among other emerging by 2030, with the country emerging as the global leader in
developmental directions. Furthermore, the Ministry 3 defining standards for AI.
This document proposes the creation of major AI
of Culture and Tourism released the “14 5-Year Plan scenarios, enhancement of AI scenario innovation
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for Artistic Creation” in 2021, which proposed the capabilities, acceleration of the creation of AI scenarios,
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integration of technology into arts, music, fine arts, and and strengthening the supply of innovative elements in
drama to intensify the application of digital technology in AI scenarios. The policy aims to drive the development
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artistic work. across various industries by promoting the practical
In 2022, the White Paper on the Development of Beijing’s implementation of AI and fostering innovation in AI
Cultural Industries stated that “cultural organizations scenarios. In 2023, the Cyberspace Administration of
China, along with seven other departments, jointly passed
will go through digital transformation. They should and officially released the “Interim Measures for the
actively explore and integrate new technologies into their Management of Generative Artificial Intelligence Services”.
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organization.” In addition, the paper emphasized that art This regulation sets standards for cultural institutions and
and other cultural products should use digital technologies artistic activities that provide services using generative AI in
and new media platforms to present traditional culture. 59 China. The regulation actively encourages the development
of generative AI on the basis of legality and compliance. 61
By 2023, the Central Committee of the CPC and the 4 The objective of the Interim Measures is to regulate
State Council issued an “Overall Layout Plan for the generative AI, which is primarily designed to generate
Construction of Digital China,” specifying the national content and promote the use of AI for national economic
strategy for cultural digitalization. This plan advanced development, ease of use, and business and individuals’
the construction of digital culture through major innovation.

Volume 3 Issue 2 (2025) 7 doi: 10.36922/ac.3822