China has officially unveiled its first national-level artificial intelligence (AI) intermediate testing platform tailored for the metallurgical sector: the National AI-Empowered Intermediate Test Base for the Steel Industry, located in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. Designed as a cornerstone for industrial innovation and AI application within the steel industry, this base will prioritize the development of high-quality datasets, proof-of-concept and intermediate testing frameworks, AI toolkits, and specialized large-scale models for the sector. Its overarching goal is to cultivate an “AI + Steel” innovation ecosystem. This strategic move aims to tackle prevalent challenges in integrating AI into steel manufacturing, enhance data reliability, cut down on model training expenses, expedite intermediate testing and real-world scenario validation, reduce entry barriers for industry-wide AI adoption, and inject fresh momentum into the digital transformation and upgrading of the steel sector.