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Artificial intelligence
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China plans to set up regional AI ‘highlands’ and related technology platforms as Beijing pushes to bridge hi-tech divide with US

  • China’s Minister of Science and Technology called on local companies to seize the new opportunities brought by the latest advances in AI technology
  • The country has published governance guidance and ethical norms for AI regulation, showing its stance towards responsible tech development

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China’s Minister of Science and Technology, Wang Zhigang, said artificial intelligence development could be a double-edged sword that enhances efficiency in industries, while bringing potential risks. Image: Shutterstock
Ben Jiangin Beijing
China plans to establish a raft of regional artificial intelligence (AI) “highlands” across the country and related tech platforms, as the world’s second-largest economy ratchets up research and development efforts in this technology amid a global rush to create more ChatGPT-like tools.
Without elaborating, that strategy was presented by Wang Zhigang, China’s Minister of Science and Technology, at the opening of the 7th World Intelligence Conference on Thursday in the northern metropolis of Tianjin. The conference, which promotes AI development and applications, concludes on Sunday.
Wang called on Chinese companies to seize the new opportunities brought by the latest advances in AI technology, echoing Chinese President Xi Jinping’s remarks on leveraging AI developments to modernise the country’s industries during a meeting of the Central Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs on May 5.
Since OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard are not available on the mainland, alternative domestic services – all complying with censorship rules and other regulations – have been launched by a number major Chinese tech firms, including Baidu, Alibaba Group Holding, SenseTime and iFlyTek. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post.
China’s Minister of Science and Technology, Wang Zhigang, delivers his speech online during the Global Innovation and Technology Summit, held at Hong Kong’s Science Park in Sha Tin, in August last year. Photo: SCMP
China’s Minister of Science and Technology, Wang Zhigang, delivers his speech online during the Global Innovation and Technology Summit, held at Hong Kong’s Science Park in Sha Tin, in August last year. Photo: SCMP

Wang acknowledged that AI development could be a double-edged sword that enhances efficiency in industries, while bringing potential risks.

Still, he told the conference that China has published relevant governance guidance and ethical norms for AI regulation, which clearly show the government’s stance towards responsible tech development.

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