China leads factory AI rollout as EU builds 19 AI Factories, report says
In brief
- China leads AI deployment in manufacturing, per Bloomberg analysis relayed by Crypto Briefing.
- Chinese industrial robot installs reached 295,000 in 2024, 54% of the global total, Crypto Briefing reported.
- EU is setting up 19 AI Factories across 16 countries, per the report.
- Siemens is opening six AI testbed scenarios in five Chinese factories, Crypto Briefing said.
The numbers behind China's lead
Crypto Briefing reported that China installed 295,000 industrial robots in 2024, or 54% of the global total. The same report put China's operational stock of industrial robots above 2 million units. The article didn't name a primary source for either figure.
The scale argument is simple. China is the world's largest manufacturing nation, which (per the report) gives it more factories to automate and more production data to feed AI systems. Beijing's "AI Plus" initiative aims to work AI into a broad range of industrial sectors.
Two other estimates in the report need caution. Crypto Briefing put AI adoption in Chinese manufacturing at around 67%, and it said Chinese AI models had closed the benchmark gap with US leaders to roughly 3% as of September 2026. Neither number was tied to a named source, so treat both as the outlet's estimates and not as settled data.
Europe's bet on data and incumbents
Europe isn't trying to win on robot counts. According to Crypto Briefing, it's leaning on deep industrial expertise and proprietary factory data, with Siemens, ABB and Schneider Electric being positioned as the backbone of a European alternative focused on data-driven automation.
The report said the EU is setting up a network of 19 AI Factories spread across 16 countries. The stated goal is to push AI into industrial use cases and strengthen the bloc's sovereignty in applied AI. The EU has also proposed AI Gigafactories to further build out its industrial AI capabilities, per the same report. LeoDex News hasn't confirmed the details of either program with the EU.
A European name inside Chinese plants
Siemens, one of the companies named as a backbone of Europe's effort, is also opening six AI testbed scenarios in five Chinese factories as of October 12, 2026, Crypto Briefing reported.
LeoDex News hasn't verified that detail with the company.
Frequently asked questions
Why is China said to be ahead in factory AI?
Crypto Briefing, relaying Bloomberg's analysis, pointed to scale. China is the world's largest manufacturing nation, so it has more factories to automate and more production data for AI systems. The outlet also reported 295,000 Chinese industrial robot installs in 2024, which was 54% of the global total, and cited Beijing's "AI Plus" initiative.
What are the EU's AI Factories?
Crypto Briefing reported that the EU is setting up a network of 19 AI Factories across 16 countries. Their purpose is to push AI into industrial use cases and strengthen the bloc's sovereignty in applied AI. The EU has also proposed AI Gigafactories to further boost its industrial AI capabilities, according to the same report.
