As China plays catch-up in AI advancements, Premier Li vows more leeway to ‘overtake rivals’
- Declaration comes during inspection tour and as European Parliament approves new legal framework to get ahead of worrisome risks associated with artificial intelligence
- Li Qiang also calls for the expansion of AI applications under a ‘loosened up’ regulatory regime that analysts say would require changes to government policies
In his elevation of artificial intelligence (AI) as a key pillar underpinning China’s pursuit of long-term growth, Premier Li Qiang has vowed to cultivate a more tolerant “trial and error” culture while allowing ample room to explore different technical paths for the rapidly growing technology.
Li devoted his first field trip after the target-setting parliamentary meetings known as the “two sessions” to tech firms in the capital city of Beijing, where state media said he heard about the latest developments in the realms of AI, semiconductors and autonomous vehicles such as self-driving cars.
“While sticking to the bottom line of security, we must promote prudent, accommodative supervision and give new and emerging technologies sufficient space and room for trial and error,” the premier reportedly told cadres and business representatives from the capital city on Wednesday.
Although he did not elaborate on how exactly that will be done, the declaration came as the European Parliament on Wednesday approved a legal framework for curbing the risks of AI, and as similar legislation has received considerable attention in the United States.
We must strive to overtake rivals at the bend or by swerving into a new lane
“AI is a vital engine for the development of new quality productive forces,” Li said during his inspection tour. He also called for breakthroughs in computing power, algorithms and other fronts, as well as for the trialling and deploying of cutting-edge technologies on multiple technical lines.
“[In the AI race] we must strive to overtake rivals at the bend or by swerving into a new lane,” the premier said, according to Xinhua.
Among the tech firms Li toured were search engine giant Baidu’s AI lab and the Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence, a private non-profit organisation led by academics from leading institutions such as Peking University.
Li was reportedly briefed on the formation of a consortium pooling together so-called large language models in the realm of research and development, as well as localised AI innovations.
The premier said China’s “rich application scenarios” give it an edge in the AI race, and he called for the expansion of AI applications under a “more loosened up” regulatory regime.
He also visited an autonomous-driving demonstration park and an integrated-circuits company.
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Fu Weigang, executive president of the Shanghai Institute of Finance and Law, said Li’s pledge of room and support would require some government policies to be adjusted.
“Changes are needed to make appraisals of investment returns more flexible, when state funding is involved, because AI trials and experiments are risky and prone to failures,” he said.
“The government should refrain from interfering too much [into the industry practices],” Fu contended.
A researcher with Fudan University in Shanghai said AI fits into Beijing’s new productive-force strategy and it is vital to empowering numerous industries.
“Li has assured very flexible and accommodative policies,” said the specialist, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “Even though China appears to be late to the AI game as new apps and products are bursting onto the scene in America, there’s still the possibility for China to catch up, given the many paths to developing and applying AI.”
