<p>This study looks into how the AI industry is spreading out across the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) in China, and how it’s affecting local economic growth. Based on data from 2020 to 2023, we analyzed things like how AI companies are grouped, where the money’s going, employment trends, and how all this lines up with economic performance across five big cities Shanghai, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Hefei. What we found was that AI businesses don’t spread out evenly. There’s clear clustering, with Shanghai and Hangzhou having the most dense areas, while Nanjing sits somewhere in the middle. Suzhou and Hefei are just getting started but already showing signs of becoming strong players too. The numbers and maps both show a strong link between government support and AI industry growth. By 2023, there was a 25% increase in new AI companies and an 18% jump in jobs in the field. Another interesting thing is that the places with more college grads tend to have more AI activity. So education levels seem to matter a lot in where the industry grows. This research gives useful pointers for government and policy folks who want to use AI to boost the economy. It also helps explain how new tech industries take root in specific areas and what kind of environment helps them grow best.</p>