With a Tencent-led base to be located at Zhengfang Cloud Creek Hub in Qianshan, Zhuhai is expected to utilize the tech mogul's strength in artificial intelligence (AI) to help digitalize the local government and boost related industries.

Situated at the intersection of Meijie (梅界路) and Lvyou (旅游路) roads, the Tencent Yunqi (Xiangzhou) Base project was agreed to during the Tencent Global Digital Ecosystem Summit held on May 22 in Kunming of southwest China's Yunnan Province.

On what is envisioned as a future "leading AI industry highland," the base will comprise a demonstration area and four centers.

Signing between Tencent and Xiangzhou [Photo courtesy Nanfangplus]

The AI Innovative Applications Demonstration Area will assist in developing an E-government for Xiangzhou and elevate the local AI industry while attracting out-of-town "smart industry" players.

Meanwhile, the AI Industry Innovation Center will have a public service platform designed to facilitate innovative enterprises and bring in businesses through providing financing, publicity, and other services.

Likewise, the AI Technology Innovation Center will have an AI industry accelerator and use the Tencent AI cloud production line to provide local enterprises with data, technology services, and other platform resources.

The AI Intelligent Talent Cultivation Center, however, will apply Tencent's staff training system in establishing a proposed practical training base or "smart college" and create an industry-university research mechanism.

Furthermore, the AI Display Center will showcase Smart City construction achievements of Zhuhai and Xiangzhou as well as Tencent's innovative products and technology such as its cloud-enabled industry solutions. The display center is expected to accelerate commercialization of scientific research achievements.

The project will enable Xiangzhou to go one step further in developing an AI economy in which upstream and downstream enterprises advance in synergy and traditional enterprises integrate deeply with AI, according to a local official.