Research on the Role and Strategies of Artificial Intelligence in the Regional Economic Development of Yunnan and Its Function as a Radiation Center for South Asia and Southeast Asia

Zihan Yang, Jianmin Wang, Zhenbin Zi, Yingxuan Li

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¹ Yunnan Open University, Kunming 650500, Yunnan, China,

² The Fifth Middle School of Guandu District, Kunming 650011, Yunnan, China,

ssr 2026 , 8(5), 87–93; https://doi.org/10.26689/ssr.v8i5.15120

Abstract

As the core technology in the era of digital economy, artificial intelligence (AI) is also a key engine driving high-quality regional economic development and enhancing the level of opening-up. As China’s radiation center for South Asia and Southeast Asia, Yunnan boasts border location advantages, a foundation of characteristic industries, and support from opening-up policies. The application of AI can not only activate the momentum of regional economic development within the province, but also strengthen Yunnan’s digital connectivity, industrial driving, and trade radiation capabilities to neighboring regions. Based on the current situation of Yunnan’s regional economic development and the requirements for building a radiation center, this paper analyzes the realistic foundation for AI to empower Yunnan’s economic development, expounds the core role of AI in the transformation and upgrading of Yunnan’s regional economy and the improvement of border opening-up, and finally puts forward targeted strategies from the aspects of overall planning, infrastructure consolidation and industrial integration. The research aims to provide useful references for Yunnan to take AI as the starting point to realize coordinated regional economic development and strengthen its radiation function for South Asia and Southeast Asia.

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