At the 2026 Boao Real Estate Forum, held from August 11-14 in Hainan under the theme "Waves and Growth," Nomura's Chief China Economist, Lu Ting, shared his insights. He noted that while China is actively embracing artificial intelligence and achieving notable successes, the scale of AI investment remains insufficient to counteract the effects of the real estate downturn.

Lu Ting also highlighted that AI will accelerate the development of major cities, with nearly all large-scale model research and development concentrated in just four cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Shenzhen. The high entry barriers in the AI industry create a strong "siphon effect," drawing resources away from other regions.