China to Impose New Regulations for Generative AI

Quincy Jon, Tech Times 14 July 2023, 05:07 pm

China has become among the first nations worldwide to publish new guidelines that regulate generative artificial intelligence (AI).

The nation's leading internet watchdog, the Cyberspace Administration of China, released amended regulations on Thursday to regulate the quickly expanding AI sector. On August 15, these "interim measures," as they are known, will take effect, according to CNN.

The published version of the guidelines loosens up a few clauses from the first draft issued in April. This shows that Beijing, which wants to revive economic development and provide employment prospects, sees a chance in the emerging AI business.

An extensive regulatory assault on China's digital titans ended last week when officials fined fintech firm Ant Group over $1 billion. Consequently, Alibaba, Baidu, and JD.com are working on AI chatbots.

Only AI services offered to the general public in China would be subject to the new regulations. Services created by research institutes or designed for customers outside the United States are excluded. Additionally, the present version does not include sanctions for infractions, such as penalties of up to 100,000 yuan ($14,027).

Security Checks, Fighting Misinformation

The statement outlining China's generative AI regulations states that the state promotes the development of safe and reliable infrastructure, including chips, software, tools, processing capacity, and data sources, and fosters creative use of generative AI across all sectors. China also encourages platforms to actively participate in developing global regulations and standards for generative AI.

One of the crucial stipulations is the need for generative AI service providers to perform security checks and register their algorithms with the government if their services can mobilize or influence the public.

These new restrictions aim to stop incorrect information, foster intolerance, and breach users' privacy and basic rights. Since they must comply with the new laws and get licenses for their generative AI services, Chinese IT businesses will be greatly impacted. Conducting security audits and protecting user data will demand a significant expenditure.

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Additionally, companies must ensure that their generative AI services comply with the "core values of socialism," which may include changing their algorithms and content to reflect Beijing's philosophy, per ReadWrite.

Concerns on AI Regulation

There are worries that China's AI regulation might stifle innovation and creativity even while they aim to promote ethical AI development. The development of AI services that encourage fresh ideas or question the current quo may be hampered if adherence to the nebulous concept of "core values of socialism" is mandated.

China's approach to AI legislation echoes worldwide efforts to create standards for new technology while promoting creativity. Beijing is especially interested in finding a balance because of the tech competition between the US and China, as per a Quartz article. The significance of encouraging local research via more lenient government regulations is that US-based AI firms got five times more investment in 2022 than their Chinese counterparts.

Many nations' laws governing artificial intelligence, including the EU's AI Act, are still in flux. This presents difficulties for companies, particularly startups while developing their AI solutions. Governments may want to adopt the least restrictive laws feasible to retain creative enterprises and attract startups from overseas if stringent regulations cause entrepreneurs to migrate to nations with more hospitable environments.