The city of Chengdu hosted the APEC ministers meeting on digitalization and artificial intelligence, which took place from July 16 to July 29. The events also included a week of digital events, demonstrating the systematic infrastructure of the digital economy, possessing a computing power of 29,000 Petaflops and open data volume of 53.96 billion records.
Holding this high-level APEC forum on the digital economy for the first time in China's internal regions reflects a deliberate national strategy. This strategy aims to showcase the processes of digital transformation in China's inland areas and promote balanced regional development within the APEC framework.
Local officials describe Chengdu's infrastructure as a combination of 'soft' and 'hard' components. The soft level includes talent development programs, industry promotion policies, and legislation on comprehensive data governance. Furthermore, Chengdu's Data Regulation has pioneered the creation of a unified regulatory framework for the development of the digital economy.
The hard component of the infrastructure consists of a multi-level computing system integrating supercomputing, intelligent, general, and edge computing, with a total capacity reaching 29,000 Petaflops. The city's computational foundation is formed by the Chengdu National Supercomputing Center and several AI computing centers.
Data resource development is also at a high level. Chengdu has provided the public with 5.396 billion data records across 21 industry sectors and created 100 high-quality industry datasets exceeding 9000 TB, which are utilized by 72 large AI models. The city introduced a computing voucher mechanism that helped more than 60 enterprises reduce AI computing costs. In 2024, Chengdu was selected as one of the first national pilot bases for data annotation in China, and in 2026, its high-tech zone will be included in the pilot program to establish the first national data industry cluster.
The digital economy is deeply integrated into Chengdu's industrial base. The city became the first in Western China to achieve an electronic information industry cluster valued at one trillion yuan. In 2025, the revenue of the electronic information industry exceeded 1.4 trillion yuan, and the scale of the core AI industry surpassed 150 billion yuan, showing a year-on-year growth of 38%. More than 1200 AI enterprises operate in the city, five of which are among China's top 100. Industrial digitalization has covered nearly 80% of large industrial enterprises, with 405 smart factories and digital workshops established.
More than 30 events are planned within the APEC Week of Digital Events. These include the APEC Telecommunications Working Group meeting, the ministers' meeting on digitalization and AI, and thematic sessions dedicated to data, healthcare, digital content, and smart cities. Representatives from companies such as Meta, Google, Microsoft, Panasonic, Tencent, ZTE, and Baidu will attend the conference. Additionally, an APEC collection of practical examples on empowering China's industries and livelihoods through digital technologies will be presented, and the APEC Telecommunications Working Group's Strategic Action Plan for 2026–2030, focusing on digital connectivity, AI empowerment, digital inclusion, security, and ecosystem development, will be discussed.
The modern world has undergone significant changes due to technological progress, which has transformed not only the economy and industries but also altered ways of perceiving events, participating in politics, and interacting with society. The spread of digital platforms has accelerated the cross-border flow of information, creating an environment where opinions, movements, and ideas can spread almost instantly, thereby reshaping global society through new forms of communication that redefine concepts of power, influence, and public participation.
For much of modern history, information circulated through a limited number of institutions, such as governments, broadcasters, and major media organizations. This system provided a certain structure, yet it concentrated influence in the hands of a few powerful controllers. Today, algorithms have disrupted this model. Although often perceived as simple tools for content recommendation, algorithms are highly adaptive systems that constantly react to behavioral patterns and public interests. Social networks have become more fragmented, generating numerous streams of information instead of one dominant narrative. Information moves faster than traditional institutions can process it, creating conditions for the rapid emergence and growth of competing viewpoints.
Digital connectivity has fundamentally changed methods of organizing and mobilizing people. If large-scale protest movements required extensive planning, funding, and physical coordination in previous decades, today campaigns can gain international support in just a few hours through digital networks and social media. This increased interconnectedness has brought people closer across geographical and cultural boundaries. Local issues can rapidly turn into global concerns, attracting support from individuals who have never visited the affected communities. Digital activism has opened up new avenues for citizens to challenge authority, promote change, and participate in international discussions in ways previously unimaginable.
One of the most significant consequences of expanded access to information is the re-examination of history itself. Previously, historical narratives were often shaped by those who held political, economic, or institutional power, and alternative viewpoints struggled to gain visibility. Today, vast amounts of data are available online, allowing citizens, researchers, and communities to view historical events from a new perspective. Figures once accepted without question are being scrutinized more closely, while ignored voices are beginning to gain recognition. This does not necessarily lead to consensus, but it fosters broader public engagement in studying the past and forming a deeper understanding of events.
Despite the advantages of wider access to information, the digital age has also amplified the spread of inaccurate and false information. False narratives spread as quickly as verified facts, causing confusion and deepening social divisions. Modern society faces the challenge not just of receiving information, but of determining which information can be trusted. As artificial intelligence, digital media, and online platforms become more complex, critical thinking and media literacy are becoming increasingly vital tools for navigating public discourse. The fight for truth will likely be one of the defining issues of the twenty-first century.
Perhaps the most important consequence of the information revolution is the change in the very perception of power. For decades, dominant political and economic narratives were shaped by a small group of powerful states and organizations. However, today people have access to a wider range of opinions, allowing them to question assumptions that were rarely challenged before. Recent events involving Iran serve as a vivid example. Many observers believed that America's overwhelming military and economic might would decisively determine the outcome of any confrontation with Iran. Nevertheless, events on the ground demonstrated the limits of traditional notions of strength and influence. This has led to a reassessment of the effectiveness of military force, the resilience of nations under pressure, and the complexity of modern geopolitical conflicts.
Europe faces its own difficulties. The continent continues to deal with the economic fallout of Brexit while balancing issues of energy security, including dependence on Russian gas, which they are constantly trying to regulate. At the same time, European industry faces growing competition from the rapidly expanding automotive sector and broader manufacturing capabilities of China. These factors have forced both politicians and businesspeople to reconsider long-established economic strategies. In South America and the Caribbean, public awareness of global power dynamics is also changing. Many citizens and governments are becoming increasingly critical of what they perceive as long-standing external interference and economic pressure, especially concerning countries like Cuba. Access to alternative sources of information has allowed for a broader debate on sanctions, sovereignty, development, and the uneven application of international norms.
What is emerging is not necessarily consensus, but rather enhanced scrutiny and analysis. Investors, consumers, and citizens are increasingly forming their opinions based on multiple sources of information, rather than accepting a single dominant narrative. Sentiments are shifting across different societies as people re-evaluate old assumptions and interact with competing interpretations of global events. This shift reflects a broader transition toward a more multipolar world—not only in economic and geopolitical aspects but also in the sphere of information. No single country, organization, or media ecosystem can command the level of influence it once did. The global dialogue has become more diverse, more contentious, and ultimately, more inclusive.
The future of global society will depend on how effectively individuals, institutions, and governments adapt to this new information environment. Algorithms will continue to evolve, technologies will become more sophisticated, and public participation in global conversations is likely to expand even further. While challenges such as disinformation remain serious, the overall trend points toward a more connected and engaged world. Information is no longer the exclusive prerogative of a narrow circle of people. As citizens gain greater access to competing viewpoints and new forms of communication, they become active participants in shaping the future, rather than passive recipients of information. The emergence of this new global consciousness may prove to be one of the most significant transformations of our time.
