Major Deployment by State Council Executive Meeting Ignites AI + Consumption

On February 10, the State Council held an executive meeting to discuss measures to boost consumption. The meeting emphasized the need to leverage the leadership of consumer brands, accelerate the growth of new forms of consumption, and promote initiatives such as "AI-plus-consumption" and health-oriented consumption, all while continuously creating new consumer products, scenarios, and trends.
Boosting consumption is a top priority this year, and artificial intelligence—with its increasingly diverse range of applications—is viewed as a promising breakthrough. From exoskeleton robots that assist the elderly and tourists with limited mobility in climbing Mount Tai to AI applications in virtual try-ons, smart customer service, and personalized recommendations, artificial intelligence is redefining the traditional concept of buying and selling. Its emergence has transformed consumption into a means of pursuing a high-quality lifestyle, satisfying new, personalized demands.

New Drivers for High-Quality Economic Development
In recent years, with a focus on the overarching goals of expanding domestic demand, stabilizing growth, and fostering development, my country has rolled out a series of policy measures—such as the State Council's opinions on promoting high-quality service consumption, the General Office of the State Council's opinions on accelerating the development of new forms and models of consumption, and the State Council's guiding opinions on leveraging new consumption to cultivate new supply and growth drivers. These policies have laid a solid institutional foundation for the development of digital consumption.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows that in 2024, national online retail sales reached 15.52 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 7.2%. Of this total, online retail sales of physical goods amounted to 13.08 trillion yuan—up 6.5%—accounting for 26.8% of total retail sales of consumer goods. my country has held the position of the world's largest online retail market for 12 consecutive years. The *Statistical Report on Internet Development in China* (55th Edition), released by the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC), indicates that as of December 2024, the number of online shoppers in my country exceeded 974 million, representing 87.9% of the total internet user population. This robust growth reflects the flourishing of new consumption patterns driven by digitalization and smart technologies, which have become key drivers in optimizing and upgrading the structure of household consumption.
Meanwhile, as the benefits of internet technology reach the entire population, the digital consumer base is transcending barriers related to age, gender, and geography, leading to the rapid emergence and expansion of new forces in digital consumption.
The "post-90s" and "post-00s" generations have become the main force of consumption. According to the 54th *Statistical Report on Internet Development in China* released by CNNIC, as of June 2024, the online shopping usage rates among the "post-90s" and "post-00s" cohorts stood at 95.1% and 88.5%, respectively.
The "silver-haired" demographic has become a new source of growth for digital consumption. The 55th *Statistical Report on Internet Development in China* shows that as of December 2024, internet users aged 50 and above accounted for 34.1% of the total user base, while the internet penetration rate among the elderly population aged 60 and above reached 52.5%. The "silver-haired demographic" stands out in sectors such as healthcare, entertainment, and tourism, demonstrating a clear trend toward consumption upgrades focused on health and lifestyle enjoyment.
As a new consumption model, artificial intelligence is widely applied in the consumer sector, spanning areas such as intelligent customer service, personalized recommendations, smart home technology, and smart payment systems. According to Guo Tao, an angel investor and AI expert, "Intelligent customer service and personalized recommendations have a significant impact on consumers; they enhance the shopping experience and make it easier for consumers to access the products they need."

Future Consumption Patterns May Shift
"AI + Consumption" is a new concept emerging for 2025.
Driven by advancements in technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data, expanding smart consumption and broadening "AI + consumption" application scenarios have become key strategies for regions to unlock consumption potential and inject new vitality into diverse markets.
In January 2025, the Anhui Provincial Department of Commerce announced the launch of an initiative to cultivate new forms of consumption under the "AI + Consumption" banner. The project aims to leverage digital technology to foster innovative consumption models and drive sustainable economic growth.
At a press conference held by the State Council Information Office on January 24, Vice Minister of Commerce Sheng Qiuping also highlighted "AI + Consumption" as a means to cultivate new consumption patterns and boost consumption momentum. He emphasized advancing the "first-launch economy" (debuting new products/stores), the "silver economy" (serving the elderly), and the "ice-and-snow economy," while promoting "AI + Consumption" and developing digital, green, and health-oriented consumption.
Guo Tao noted, "From a market perspective, the application of AI in the consumer sector is showing rapid growth." In the coming years, fueled by technological progress and rising consumer demand, sectors such as health, education, and home-related consumption are poised for explosive growth.
"Currently, AI is making a significant impact on marketing," said Pan Helin, a renowned digital economy scholar and member of the Expert Committee on Information and Communication Economy under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. "AI is used to guide consumer purchasing decisions; for instance, many live-streaming sessions now utilize 'AI-driven virtual hosts'."
However, there remains considerable room for improvement in AI marketing applications. "In the past, many AI systems pushed products to consumers from the merchant's perspective. In the future, AI marketing should serve as a tool for consumers, helping them find the right products. AI should view issues from the perspective of the party it serves," Pan argued.
Furthermore, regarding the enhancement of the consumer experience, Guo Tao stated that AI can improve the accuracy and responsiveness of algorithms, thereby making smart recommendations more precise. Additionally, by integrating multimodal perception technologies, AI can better understand consumer needs and preferences.
Ultimately, turning this concept into reality requires a pragmatic, down-to-earth approach to exploring "AI + Consumption." So, how can enterprises leverage artificial intelligence technology to boost their competitiveness and market share?
In an interview with *China Industry News*, Guo Tao stated that for enterprises to enhance their competitiveness and market share through AI, they must first increase investment in R&D and master core technologies. Secondly, they need to focus on data accumulation and analysis to better understand consumer needs. Finally, they must strengthen collaboration with partners to jointly drive the application of AI in the consumer sector.
"AI plus consumption" is not merely about layering technology onto traditional business models; it represents a profound industrial transformation. "The integration of AI and consumption will radically alter future consumption patterns. As AI technology continues to evolve and find new applications, future consumption will become increasingly personalized, convenient, and intelligent. For instance, consumers might shop via smart voice assistants or try on clothes using virtual reality technology. The emergence of these new consumption models will drive the upgrading and development of related industries, ultimately delivering a superior lifestyle experience for consumers," Guo Tao said.

Source: China Industry News Network