The global race for AI supremacy is in full swing. The Chinese government recently published the Global AI Governance Action Plan and at the same time presented drafts for ethical AI rules and labelling requirements for AI-generated content — a clear signal of the strategic shift from pure development to global regulation and standard setting.
Key measures include accelerating and promoting innovation development in the AI sector: establishing international platforms for research and technology cooperation, promoting open ecosystems for AI (AI Plus) and removing technological barriers. By promoting cross-sector AI applications, artificial intelligence is to be used more extensively in key areas such as manufacturing, consumption, healthcare, education, agriculture, smart cities and autonomous driving.
The expansion of digital infrastructure is to be accelerated. This includes the expansion of clean energy, next-generation networks, data centres and interoperable standards for computing power. Developing countries (Global South) are to receive special support in accessing technology, and cross-border open source communities and platforms are to be established. This also includes the development of compliance and security guidelines in the open source sector.
Data and data protection management is about promoting high-quality data sets, free and orderly data flows, anti-discrimination and protecting the diversity of the AI ecosystem. The establishment of a framework for risk assessment, AI testing systems, emergency response mechanisms and international cooperation on security and risk issues also fall into this category. By promoting technical and standard-setting cooperation, common standards and guidelines are to be developed on issues such as transparency, algorithmic responsibility, security and interfaces.
The Chinese plan identifies AI as a global asset and underlines China’s claim to participate in shaping international AI governance and, in particular, to involve developing countries. At the same time, it emphasizes that national sovereignty and consideration of country-specific development conditions play an important role. These core elements show how China links its global strategic goals in the field of AI with operational and technical measures — from infrastructure and data to applications, governance and international cooperation.
China Intellectual Property Blog 