Core Insights - Hubei is establishing a new artificial intelligence fund with a total scale of 2 billion yuan to support the development of AI technology and applications [4] - The province has built 87 major innovation platforms and new R&D institutions in the AI field, training over 5,000 AI professionals annually [1] - Hubei's AI industry is projected to exceed 150 billion yuan in scale this year, with a compound annual growth rate of nearly 40% over the past five years [1][2] Industry Development - As of now, Hubei has 1,215 AI companies, a 49% increase from the previous year, including 40 listed companies and 120 national-level specialized "little giant" enterprises [2] - The provincial government emphasizes the role of AI companies in innovation, with over 80% of research directions and 70% of technology projects led by enterprises [2] - Hubei has produced several landmark AI industry achievements, including leading technologies in ultra-high-speed flash memory chips and advanced AI models surpassing GPT-5 [3] Investment and Funding - The newly established 2 billion yuan fund will focus on smart hardware, computing infrastructure, and AI applications, targeting high-tech companies with innovative business models [4] - Hubei's Changjiang Industrial Group has set up over 10 AI investment funds, investing in more than 80 projects with a total investment exceeding 11 billion yuan [3]