China Launches National Standards for AI Terminal Intelligence Grading to Boost Industry Standardization

Recently, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and other relevant departments jointly launched and implemented a series of national standards for the intelligence grading of artificial intelligence (AI) terminals. The standards are designed to further regulate the evaluation of terminal intelligence, drive product iteration and upgrading, and protect users’ consumption experience, marking a new step in the standardized development of China’s AI terminal industry.

China Daily reports that the newly released series of national standards adopt a "2+N" framework, which provides a clear and unified basis for the intelligence evaluation of various AI terminals. The "2" refers to two core standards: "Intelligence Grading of Artificial Intelligence Terminals - Part 1: Reference Framework" and "Intelligence Grading of Artificial Intelligence Terminals - Part 2: General Requirements". These two standards clarify the concept of intelligence, grade classification and testing methods for AI terminals.

In terms of the grading system, the standards divide the intelligence level of AI terminals into four grades, from L1 Response Level, L2 Tool Level, L3 Assistant Level to L4 Collaboration Level, with the intelligence level increasing in turn. This grading system enables consumers to clearly understand the intelligence level of different terminal products and helps enterprises accurately position their products and promote technological upgrading.

Xinhua News Agency notes that the "N" in the framework refers to specific standards for different product categories, covering mobile phones, computers, televisions, glasses, car cockpits, speakers, headphones and other common AI terminals. The first batch of standards includes 7 product categories, and the research and development of standards for other categories will be promoted in the follow-up to fully cover the diverse needs of the AI terminal market.

The launch of these national standards is an important measure to promote the high-quality development of China’s AI terminal industry. With the rapid development of AI technology, the types of AI terminals are becoming increasingly diverse, but the lack of unified evaluation standards has hindered the healthy development of the industry and affected users’ consumption experience. The implementation of the standards will effectively solve this problem and promote the standardized and orderly development of the industry.

Relevant person in charge of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology stated that in the next step, the ministry will work with relevant departments to strengthen the implementation and application of the standards, build a standard conformity testing platform, and create demonstration cases and benchmark products for standard application. Efforts will also be made to accelerate the iteration of the standard system and build a unified standard system covering various terminal forms.

In addition, the standards will be effectively implemented in the 2026 consumer goods "trade-in" policy to guide enterprises to upgrade their products in accordance with the standards and stimulate the vitality of the consumer market. Moving forward, China will continue to improve the standard system for AI terminals, promote technological innovation and industrial upgrading, and provide strong support for the high-quality development of the AI industry.