China is introducing a new set of rules to regulate Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots like ChatGPT, requiring them to promote the Chinese Communist Party’s “core values” and adhere to the country’s censorship regime. On top of that, developers of AI chatbots will have to register their algorithms with the Chinese government and make sure the AI does not disseminate any content that could potentially undermine national unity or the state.
This follows a global trend of regulating AI, as governments all around the world try to establish laws and rules surrounding the technology. Europe is taking the lead in this regard, issuing the Artificial Intelligence Act as a way to tightly define the development and usage of AI. Other countries, like the US, have yet to follow suit and propose major forms of legislation.
Meanwhile, tech experts like Elon Musk are proposing that organizations should take a pause in the development of AI, so that safety rules and best practices can be created. This sentiment has been echoed by other AI developers, who worry that the West will be left behind in terms of advancement in comparison to companies operating in China. Chinese tech organization, SenseTime Group, recently unveiled SenseChat, their own version of the popular AI bot ChatGPT developed by OpenAI.
In addition to the new rules, the US has implemented measures such as banning the sale of AI accelerator chips to Chinese companies as a way to limit their technological advancement. This has become increasingly important due to the potential risks and implications associated with AI, both in terms of public opinion, regulation, and data privacy.
The CEO of SenseTime Group, Xu Li, was the face of the demonstration that saw SenseChat introduced, showing the ChatGPT competitor having the ability to perform the same functions. It remains to be seen how the introduction of this new set of regulations in China will impact the industry, and how developers will respond.
