Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the "online new economy" in Shanghai has recently gained strength with the support of new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the 5G network, big data and blockchain, local media has reported.

Thanks to AI technology, non-contact resumption of work, non-contact delivery and online classes became a reality.

Food-delivery platform Meituan Dianping adopted AI and big data means and developed a "health code". Users can scan the code to understand a store's health protection measures and the health status of its chef.

Shanghai is also speeding up the construction of a new generation of information infrastructure to build a "dual-gigabit broadband city" with 5G technology featuring ultra-high internet speeds, super-high bandwidth and ultra-low latency.

During the pandemic, through 5G and internet of things technology, communities have realized remote supervision of people quarantined at home.

Since Shanghai resumed work, 5G technology has played an important role in the industrial field in reducing manpower deployment and direct interaction between personnel, while ensuring the gradual recovery of production.

Block chain technology also became a key technology to support the development of Shanghai's online new economy.

Due to the concentration of financial factors, diversified market forms and the active online economy, Shanghai has now become one of the most active users of block chain technology in China.

According to the online new economy action plan just released by the Shanghai government, in the next three years, the city will integrate AI, 5G, big data and other new generation information technology with the manufacturing industry. The city will build more than 100 unmanned factories, production lines and workshops, and accelerate the intelligent transformation of high-end equipment, automobiles, biomedicine and electronic information industries.