China’s state-backed media organisation Xinhuanet plans to invest more than 1.1 billion yuan ($162.38 million) in an artificial intelligence project designed to support the study and dissemination of President Xi Jinping’s political ideology, according to filings with the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
The project, called Xinhua Yudian, or Xinhua Lexicon, is described by the company as an intelligent agent for learning, researching, and disseminating Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
Xinhua to develop AI tool focused on ideological education
According to the filing, the AI agent will be designed to provide users with access to political and current affairs content while helping them navigate growing volumes of information.
The company said mainstream values will guide the platform and will be dedicated to spreading a positive voice.
Xinhuanet said the AI system would also help users address information overload and what it described as “a dilemma of trust in distinguishing truth from falsehood.”
The investment comes as China continues to promote wider adoption of artificial intelligence technologies.
In March, the country launched its AI+ initiative aimed at accelerating AI deployment across different sectors of the economy.
The project also aligns with earlier technology-driven efforts to expand the reach of official state ideology among younger internet users.
AI to serve as political reference tool
According to Xinhuanet, the proposed AI agent will present the key themes and messages contained in Xi Jinping’s speeches and writings.
The tool is also expected to function as a politically sensitive citation-checking system.
The company said users will be able to rely on the platform to ensure references to Xi’s statements in official documents and policy interpretations remain accurate and free from errors.
Xinhuanet added that the AI model will be developed using the state-run news agency’s “pure and clean” corpus library.
The company said the platform would help deliver the Communist Party’s messaging across different segments of society and further support efforts aimed at consolidating the ideological and public opinion foundation.
China has previously used technology platforms to promote official ideology.
In 2019, the country introduced the Xuexi Qiangguo application, whose name translates roughly as Study to Make China Strong.
The app became one of the most downloaded applications on Apple’s China App Store following its launch.
AI emerges as leading driver of US job cuts
Meanwhile, artificial intelligence is increasingly being cited by US employers as a reason for workforce reductions, even as hiring activity continues in parts of the economy.
According to a report released by global outplacement and executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, US-based employers announced 97,006 job cuts in May.
The total was 16% higher than April’s 83,387 announced layoffs and 3% above the 93,816 cuts reported in May of the previous year.
The latest figure represents the highest number of announced job cuts for the month of May since 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic triggered widespread workforce reductions.
It also marked the third consecutive month of rising layoffs, with 48,307 announced cuts in February.
A notable shift in the data has been the growing role of artificial intelligence in workforce decisions.
For the third consecutive month, AI was the most frequently cited reason for layoffs.
Employers attributed 38,579 job cuts to artificial intelligence in May, the highest monthly total recorded since Challenger began tracking AI-related layoffs in 2023.
The figure accounted for approximately 40% of all announced job cuts during the month.
The trend has accelerated significantly during 2026.
AI-related layoffs represented 7% of announced cuts in January before increasing to 25% in March and 26% in April.
So far this year, employers have linked 87,714 job cuts to artificial intelligence, accounting for 22% of all announced layoffs.
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