China to build ‘inclusive’ AI network to ease cost pressures on small firms
SCMP Tech / 4/3/2026
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Key Points
- China plans to build an “inclusive” AI network aimed at reducing costs for small businesses that are being squeezed by rising AI-related spending.
- The policy push is driven by surging token consumption, which is straining existing supply and pushing up cloud computing costs.
- The initiative suggests a broader effort to expand access to AI infrastructure and capacity beyond large firms, potentially improving affordability and availability for smaller players.
- By targeting infrastructure economics rather than model performance, the move is likely to shift some competitive pressure toward cost-efficient deployment and shared resources.
China is rolling out a campaign to sharply cut artificial intelligence computing costs for small businesses, as demand for processing power surges alongside a fresh round of price increases by domestic providers.
The country plans to build an “inclusive computing service network” – offering broad coverage, lower costs and improved service quality – to reduce barriers for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking access to computing resources, according to a notice published by the...
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