The Chinese government has launched a series of policy initiatives since the beginning of the year to accelerate the development and regulation of the artificial intelligence (AI) sector.
In January, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, along with six other ministries and agencies, released guidelines aimed at developing future industries. These industries integrate advanced technologies such as the metaverse, humanoid robots, brain-computer interfaces, and quantum information. The guidelines emphasized the application of AI and advanced computing to identify and cultivate industries with significant potential, contributing to the push for new industrialization.
Building on this momentum, the Ministry of Education introduced a nationwide AI Empowerment campaign in March. This initiative seeks to enhance the AI knowledge and skills of teachers and students, promote AI-powered educational systems, develop specialized AI models for teaching and learning, and advocate for the legal and ethical use of AI.
On July 2, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, along with three other government bodies, unveiled guidelines outlining seven key areas for developing China’s AI standard system. These areas include standards for key technologies, intelligent products and services, and industry applications. The guidelines aim for the formulation of over 50 national and industrial standards for AI by 2026, establishing a robust framework to guide the sector's high-quality development.
Wei Kai, head of the Artificial Intelligence Research Institute under the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, stated, \"We have numerous scenarios in various industries that need these technologies to empower. We need to address all kinds of issues in the industrial implementation of large models, such as data governance, platform construction and computing power layout to lay a solid foundation for the sustainable development of AI.\"
China's AI industry has seen significant advancements in technological innovation, product creation, and industry applications in recent years. The sector continues to evolve with the accelerated development of new technologies like large models.
Currently, China hosts more than 4,500 AI companies, with the core AI industry reaching a scale of over 578 billion yuan (approximately 81 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, marking a 13.9 percent year-on-year growth, according to official data.
In its latest government work report, China introduced the AI Plus initiative, a strategic effort designed to expand the digital economy and lead the transformation and modernization of manufacturing sectors.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
