New Delhi, 16th July 2023: China has issued new guidelines for generative artificial intelligence (AI), making the country one of the first in the world to control the technology that powers popular services such as ChatGPT.
China’s Cyberspace Administration, the country’s top internet watchdog, presented a set of updated guidelines to oversee the expanding business that has taken the world by storm. The rules will go into force on August 15.
In comparison to a preliminary draught released in April, the published version, dubbed “interim measures,” appears to have relaxed several previously announced provisions, implying that Beijing sees opportunity in the nascent industry as it seeks to re-ignite economic growth in order to create jobs.
Last week, officials fined fintech firm Ant Group just under $1 billion, closing a chapter on a wide-ranging regulatory crackdown centred on China’s internet titans. Many of them, notably Alibaba (BABA), Baidu (BIDU), and JD com (JD), are currently developing their own AI chatbots.
The rules will no longer apply to services available to the general public in China. Technology developed in research institutions or intended for use by international users is excluded.
The revised version also eliminates material indicating punitive measures such as fines of up to 100,000 yuan ($14,027) for violators.
According to the statement outlining the restrictions, the state “encourages the innovative use of generative AI in all industries and fields” and promotes the creation of “secure and trustworthy” hardware, software, tools, computing capacity, and data sources.
China also encourages platforms to “participate in the formulation of international rules and standards” concerning generative AI, according to the statement.
Nonetheless, one of the important provisions requires generative AI service providers to undergo security checks and register their algorithms with the government if their services have the potential to influence public opinion or “mobilise” the public.
