China Says AI Disruption Could Pose ‘Serious Challenge’

A new report from China’s internet regulator warns that generative AI tools such as ChatGPT could pose a “serious challenge” to governance, regulation and the labor market on the continent.

The China Digital Development Report 2022 China Cyberspace Administration (CAC) is the latest indication of governments’ unease with the rapid development of generative AI tools, which enable the creation of human-like content such as text and images.

China, like the UKthe EU, the US and other jurisdictions, are jostling for developing regulations for the field of AI, which is considered likely to displace a large number of jobs and make it more difficult to detect fake content, among other effects.

The CAC report highlighted the threat of value degeneration that could be caused by the anarchic adoption of generative AI along with other cutting-edge technologies such as Web3 and quantum computing.

‘Fanaticism’

ChatGPT, developed by Microsoft-backed OpenAI, is not available in China, but a number of domestic tech firms, led by e-commerce firm Alibaba and search engine Baidu, have rolled out test versions of their chatGPT. own similar technology.

Microsoft China chief technology officer Wei Qing said at an AI-themed event in Beijing this week that many Chinese investments in generative AI are to be made by “fanaticism” and could end up being a waste of time and money.

Last month, China’s second-largest decision-making body, the Politburo, said at its quarterly meeting that China should “create an ecosystem for innovation, but at the same time consider risk prevention.”

Other jurisdictions express similar concerns, the EU developing far-reaching AI legislation and the The United States is heading in the same direction.

AI Security

Earlier this month, US President Joe Biden met the CEOs of Google and Microsoft and two artificial intelligence companies at the White House as part of its efforts to ensure that artificial intelligence products are developed in a safe and secure manner.

Biden told company officials they need to mitigate current and potential risks AI poses to individuals, society and national security, including risks to human rights and jobs. , the administration said.

On April 11, China’s CAC released draft regulations for the provision of generative AI services in China, requiring providers to take measures to prevent discriminatory content, misinformation and content that harms life. privacy or intellectual property.

The new CAC report also warned of a potentially “turbulent” situation for supply chains due to a “battle over core technologies”, in reference to the The hostilities between the United States and China over advanced technologies such as computer chips.

Supply chain turbulence

He said the country continues to pursue self-sufficiency in semiconductors and electronic design automation software.

“The development of AI chips and [related] development frameworks accelerated,” the CAC wrote, saying it helped establish “baseline AI software and hardware support capabilities.”