Government News
Two Sessions: AI integration, governance take center stage 2026-02-04
The 2026 Shanghai Two Sessions saw a surge in proposals to use AI for public welfare and address the urgent need for new governance frameworks. Political advisers want AI to become a cornerstone of essential services.Ye Qiang, vice chairman of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party, suggested using AI to improve medical services. Ye suggested AI pilot programs to improve diagnostic quality and expand resident healthcare access.
Xu Bing, Chairman of Jinzhifu Elderly Care Service Group, highlighted the practical impact of AI on the city's aging population. From automated kitchen assistants and "cooking robots" to remote medical consultations, these tools are providing a safety net that increases both independence and security for the elderly.
The city government report released on February 3 stated that Shanghai would prioritize public well-being in 2025, including elderly care due to an aging population.
The city added 3,852 elderly care beds and 3,326 cognitively impaired beds in 2025. The report announced the opening of 57 senior community canteens and 336 neighborhood-based elderly service stations. AI adoptions will improve elderly care.
Shanghai CPPCC member Tong Lin, deputy director of Baihui Law Firm, urged leading AI firms to develop dedicated accounts for minors. These accounts would provide age-appropriate content tailored for educational settings, ensuring a healthy digital environment for younger users.
On the other side, rapid integration of AI has created a "governance gap," said Chen Le, chief investment officer of the Shanghai Cultural Industry Development Investment Fund. Chen said that AI regulation is the most critical topic among cross-industry experts.
"AI has achieved breakthroughs in work and life, but it also presents unprecedented challenges for industry supervision," Chen stated. She noted that as AI becomes invisible within the fabric of daily life, developing effective, real-time oversight and ethical governance remains a primary focus during this year's sessions.
The consensus among advisers is clear: for Shanghai to remain a global AI hub, it must lead not only in technological innovation but also in the creation of a "people-centered" regulatory model that balances progress with public safety, industry officials said.
Source: City News Service
