China Issues Draft Regulation on ChatGPT-Type Artificial Intelligence Chatbots
On April 11, 2023, China released a draft regulation on ChatGPT-type artificial intelligence chatbots. The regulation is response to the popularity of ChatGPT and its AI competitors in various countries, where they offer services like writing essays or articles. However, Chinese authorities have concerns about the potential danger of ChatGPT-type chatbots generating texts critical of the Communist Party. In response, the State Internet Information Office released “Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Services Management Measures.”
Essentially, the measures state that AI platforms in China are only authorized to deliver contents that “should reflect the core values of socialism, shall not contain subversion of the state power, overthrow the socialist system, incite to split the country, undermine national unity, promote terrorism, extremism, ethnic hatred, ethnic discrimination, violence, obscenity, pornography, false information, and disrupt the economic order and the social order.” In short, any criticism of the CCP and promotion of dissent is prohibited.
The draft regulation requires companies offering these services to share their algorithms with the authorities, undergo a security review, and disclose what sources they use and how they use them. They may also be required to disclose the names of clients who use their services to the authorities and should ban any customers who ask questions or request texts not in line with the “core values of socialism” or the interests of the state or the CCP.
The CCP’s struggle to control the internet and technology is constantly emphasized by Xi Jinping himself. However, certain technologies are inherently uncontrollable, and despite warnings that they may be committing a crime, millions of young Chinese use VPNs and try to elude surveillance.
The ideological-police approach of the CCP would likely irritate netizens, particularly their younger segments, and may not work in the end. Meanwhile, Alibaba’s or Baidu’s AI-powered chatbots may write a term paper for students in China, but the contents will glorify the Party and Xi Jinping.
