Beijing is set to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) education into primary and secondary school curricula starting from the next academic year, reflecting China’s growing focus on AI advancements.
The decision follows China’s increasing prominence in the global AI landscape, particularly after the launch of DeepSeek’s latest AI-powered chatbot in January 2025. The chatbot, which has drawn international attention, demonstrated capabilities rivaling, and in some cases surpassing, Western counterparts like ChatGPT at a significantly lower cost.
According to reports, schools in the capital will allocate a minimum of eight hours per academic year to AI-focused lessons, commencing in early September. These lessons may be introduced as standalone subjects or integrated into existing courses such as information technology and science.
Beijing’s Municipal Education Commission emphasised the use of innovative teaching methods, incorporating AI-powered learning tools and research-based AI assistants to enhance interactive education through human-machine dialogue. Additionally, the city plans to strengthen collaboration between universities and secondary schools to cultivate AI talent.
As part of this initiative, Beijing aims to develop advanced AI courses designed to foster early-stage innovative talent, equipping students with foundational skills essential for future AI research and development.
In a move highlighting China’s commitment to AI progress, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with leading figures in the country’s technology sector earlier this year. The rare engagement signaled increased government support for technological innovation and state-owned enterprises while addressing concerns over unregulated industry expansion.
DeepSeek’s technological achievements have earned recognition from Chinese authorities, and its founder was among those present at the meeting with the president. Meanwhile, competition in China’s AI sector continues to intensify. Tech giant Alibaba recently unveiled its AI model, QwQ-32B, which reportedly matches DeepSeek’s performance while requiring significantly less data for operation.
Additionally, a powerful new AI assistant, known as Manos, has been making waves in the country, offering advanced capabilities that extend beyond traditional chatbot functionalities. As China accelerates its AI developments, the world watches closely to see how these innovations will reshape the industry.
