"Government Work Report" Actively Addresses Elderly Care Concerns: How Can the Silver Economy Seize AI Opportunities?

Cover News Reporter Dai Yun

“Over 320 million elderly people in China are aged 60 and above, accounting for 23% of the total population.” This data was disclosed recently by Shen Danyang, head of the drafting team for the 2026 Government Work Report and director of the State Council Research Office, at a briefing held by the State Council Information Office.

Cover News reporters found that at least 20 sections of the Government Work Report relate to “elderly people,” including aging, pensions, and senior citizens.

At the executive meeting of the State Council held on February 24, work related to promoting the “silver economy” and elderly care services was also discussed. The meeting pointed out that China’s “silver economy” has great potential. Support measures should be improved, policy implementation strengthened, and the development of elderly care and related industries promoted to provide strong support for addressing population aging.

Data shows that the current scale of China’s “silver economy” is about 7 trillion yuan. By around 2035, the elderly population aged 60 and above is expected to exceed 400 million, and the scale of the “silver economy” may surpass 30 trillion yuan.

In today’s highly digitalized era and as we step into the AI (artificial intelligence) age, how can the “silver economy” seize new opportunities?

On March 5, the State Council Information Office held a briefing. Shen Danyang, head of the drafting team for the 2026 Government Work Report and director of the State Council Research Office, answered reporters’ questions. Photo by Xu Xiang

Rapid Development of the Silver Economy

Supply and Demand Mismatch Becomes Prominent

Huang Shisong, senior researcher at the National Development and Strategy Research Institute of Renmin University of China and director of the Elderly Industry Research Center, believes that demographic aging and digital globalization provide opportunities for China to make breakthroughs in the “silver economy” field.

What is the “silver economy”? Industry consensus generally defines it as the total of economic activities related to providing products or services for the elderly, as well as preparing for old age. This includes public services such as dining, medical care, caregiving, and cultural and sports activities for seniors, as well as various markets offering multi-level, diverse products and services like smart health and elderly care, senior interest education, senior tourism services, and age-friendly renovations.

It is worth noting that although the “silver economy” market continues to heat up and the ecosystem is constantly improving, issues of supply and demand matching are gradually emerging during rapid industry development.

Many representatives and committee members believe that the dual driving effects of “silver economy + artificial intelligence” should be fully unleashed. By empowering technology, we can transform elderly people from passive care recipients into active participants in digital life.

Beijing Fengtai Station, tourists and senior tourism train photo. Source: Xinhua News Agency

Digital Divide Hinders Many Elderly from Enjoying Smart Elderly Care Services

Yu Ruifen, member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and head of Laiyifen Co., Ltd. in Shanghai, stated that the “silver economy” is not limited to a single industry but is a comprehensive sector covering multiple fields. It can drive the coordinated upgrading of upstream and downstream industries, create more jobs, and inject strong momentum into boosting consumption.

Through research, Yu Ruifen found that while the “silver economy” is developing rapidly, there are still shortcomings that need improvement. For example, the supply-demand fit of related products is insufficient, some age-appropriate products are highly homogeneous, and exaggerated advertising of product efficacy can mislead elderly consumers. Additionally, service scenarios for the elderly are relatively limited, and the digital divide makes it difficult for many seniors to conveniently access smart elderly care services.

She suggests that, on one hand, efforts should be made to strengthen scientific guidance and build a solid safety net for consumption. Relevant departments should lead efforts, collaborate with experts to develop suitable health and wellness plans for the elderly, and carry out regular science popularization through communities, elderly care institutions, and senior universities to guide elderly people to establish scientific health concepts and rational consumption habits. On the other hand, industry order should be regulated, and standards improved. Strengthening supervision over the entire chain of age-appropriate products and services, promoting the establishment of unified industry norms and standards, cultivating leading enterprises and high-quality brands, so that companies have clear rules to follow and consumers can shop with confidence.

Digital Divide Hinders Many Elderly from Enjoying Smart Elderly Care Services. Source: Xinhua News Agency

To Address Population Aging Trends

Some Regions Explore Digital Doctors

Ao Hushan, member of the CPPCC and executive vice president of the Chinese Society of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Anesthesiology, believes that demographic changes and shifts in disease patterns are putting pressure on traditional healthcare systems. Promoting the deep integration and large-scale deployment of digital doctors with traditional medical systems is urgent.

In response to aging, many regions are leveraging digital empowerment and conducting extensive explorations in medical and elderly care integration, among which digital doctors are a key example.

According to Ao Hushan, digital doctors can provide 24/7 health consultations, offer initial assessments of diseases, suggest health management strategies, and connect with offline medical services. They are an extension of primary healthcare and can become AI health partners for families.

However, his research found that scaling digital doctors faces many constraints, such as unclear service boundaries and responsibility rules; weak data foundations, with conflicts between privacy protection and data utilization; and doubts about AI accuracy and explainability.

He suggests that promoting integration of digital doctors with traditional healthcare requires systematic policy deployment. He recommends clarifying the positioning of digital doctors, defining service scope, responsibility division, and quality control standards. Promoting interconnected health information platforms, establishing standardized health data authorization models, and piloting trusted data spaces are also necessary. Exploring ways to include compliant digital doctor services into public health services and medical insurance reimbursement is also advised.

For the “50+” Retiree Group

Custom Smart Life Assistants

Another notable issue is that market supply for the “silver group” mainly focuses on basic elderly care and health products, with insufficient services addressing deeper needs such as mental health, emotional companionship, and digital integration.

Data shows that nearly a quarter of elderly people experience varying degrees of loneliness, and those over 75 have a higher risk of depression compared to younger seniors.

How can technology help elderly people shift from “passive care recipients” to “active creators of life”?

The reporter noted that in March 2025, Hong Song integrated the DeepSeek AI large model to launch “AI Song Xiao Zhi,” the first domestic smart life assistant tailored for the “50+” retiree group, providing 24/7 instant responses and upgrading entertainment and lifestyle services.

By the end of that year, Hong Song launched the “Hong Song Notes” feature within its interest-based community app for seniors. Elderly users can record and share life moments through notes, pictures, and short videos.

A company executive revealed that to lower the digital content creation barrier for the elderly, they launched the “AI Help Me Write” feature, supporting image and video understanding and voice-to-text conversion.

Data shows that Hong Song app users generate over 500,000 pieces of user-generated content (UGC) monthly. “AI Song Xiao Zhi” users interact for over half an hour daily on average, with more than 40 interaction rounds.

Liu Hong, member of the CPPCC, believes that to address the structural imbalance, insufficient high-quality supply, and imperfect consumption environment in the “silver economy,” systematic policies and targeted efforts are needed. He recommends strengthening R&D of high-tech age-friendly products, expanding AI companionship and intelligent interaction applications, and creating a new “technology + elderly care” model.