KPMG China Chairman Zou Jun: Funding for embodied intelligence in China is growing rapidly, and AI has become the core engine driving the economy

PANews July 19 news: According to The Paper, Zou Jun, Chairman of KPMG China, said at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference that AI is accelerating its transition from a tool to improve efficiency into a core engine for economic growth. China has a complete industrial system and a consumer market supported by more than 1 billion internet users, providing a foundation for AI to move from the lab to the production line. KPMG’s latest report says that in 2025, funding for embodied intelligence—the main direction for large-model applications—reached $11.17 billion, up 152% year over year, with 670 funding rounds, up 81% year over year. In the first quarter of 2026, funding reached $5.03 billion, up 182.9% year over year, with 203 funding rounds, up 55% year over year.