China issues principles of next generation AI governance

A professional committee under China's Ministry of Science and Technology has issued principles of next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) governance, pledging to develop responsible AI in China.

A robot performs Taichi before the 2018 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai on September 14, 2018. [File photo: IC]

Xue Lan, dean of Schwarzman College, Tsinghua University and director of China's national professional committee on next generation AI governance, said Monday that the principles are introduced to better coordinate the development and governance of the booming technology and to ensure AI to be secure, controllable and reliable.

The principles highlight the theme of developing responsible AI, addressing eight tenets including harmony and friendliness, fairness and justice, inclusiveness and sharing, respect for privacy, security and controllability, shared responsibility, open cooperation and agile governance, Xue noted.

Zhang Xu, deputy director of the strategic planning department under the Ministry of Science and Technology, said the principles have gained consensus across online suggestion boxes, expert reviews and consultation with multiple related parties.

Zeng Yi, a researcher from the Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, noted that the principles issued Monday emphasized international cooperation, protecting the future of AI and building a community with a shared future for humanity.

It is the initiative and commitment that China's AI development makes to the world, Zeng noted.

He added that the principles also focus on the long-term development of AI and proposed to carry out forecasting research, which can ensure the development of AI in the future would benefit humanity, society and ecology.

According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, the professional committee on new generation AI governance was established earlier this year in order to promote the healthy development of AI, strengthen the research on legal, ethical and social issues of AI and actively promote the global governance of AI. Drafting governance principles is the committee's major task this year.