On 23 March 2026, the Data Committee of the China Artificial Intelligence Industry Development Alliance (AIIA) held its first plenary meeting of the year in Beijing, bringing together over 150 representatives from academia, industry, and research institutions. The meeting reviewed progress in 2025 and outlined priorities for 2026.
Wu Tongning, Deputy Director of the Artificial Intelligence Research Institute at the China Academy of Information and Communication Technology (CAICT), highlighted the central role of data in AI development. He noted that data quality and governance directly shape the scope and depth of AI applications. Over the past year, the committee made progress in building data standards, improving quality assessment methods, and strengthening industry collaboration. Looking ahead, he emphasized the need to better connect data development with practical AI applications.
Li Sun, Head of the AIIA Data Committee and Deputy Director of the Platform Department at CAICT’s AI Research Institute, presented the 2025 annual work report. The committee supported government initiatives, contributed to standard-setting, and expanded ecosystem partnerships. Key activities included research projects for the National Data Administration, participation in the “Model-Data Resonance” initiative, and the publication of guidance such as the Guidelines for Building High-Quality AI Datasets. It also worked with leading enterprises to validate data quality assessment technologies and supported capability building in several cities.
For 2026, the committee will focus on four priorities: supporting national data initiatives, improving standards and assessment tools, expanding ecosystem activities, and strengthening research outputs. Planned deliverables include updated standards systems, industry mapping reports, and new guidance on dataset development.
The meeting also included a handover ceremony for the committee’s vice-chair units for 2026. The newly appointed vice-chair units are all Chinese companies: Data Development Center of China Telecom Co., Ltd.; CRRC Academy Industrial Research Institute Co., Ltd.; Core Research Institute for Coal; National Center for Respiratory Medicine; Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Laboratory; Beijing Baidu Netcom Science and Technology Co., Ltd.; Institute for Advanced Algorithms Research (Shanghai); China Digital Culture Group; and Dataocean AI (Beijing) Co., Ltd. Representatives from these organizations shared their ongoing work and priorities in the AI data field, contributing to the formulation of the 2026 work plan.
Expert briefings were also delivered on key developments. Fan Wei, Deputy Head of the AIIA Data Committee and Senior Engineer at CAICT’s AI Research Institute, presented the Trustworthy AI Dataset Quality Assessment System 2.0, which combines dynamic and static evaluation methods. Researcher Yan Jiangyi introduced a standards framework for high-quality AI datasets covering the full data lifecycle. Researcher Li Peiyu presented the 2026 AI Data Labeling Industry Map, outlining key trends in architecture, ecosystem development, and application scenarios. Researcher Li Wenjing outlined the Guidelines for Building High-Quality Industry Datasets for Intelligent Agent Applications (2026), providing structured guidance for dataset development.
The meeting outlined the AIIA data committee’s work priorities for 2026 and provided an update on ongoing activities in AI data standardization, quality assessment, and ecosystem development. It also served as a platform for members to exchange views and align on key areas of focus, with continued efforts expected in improving data practices and supporting industry collaboration.
