Jin Ding/China Daily
The World Internet Conference 2024, currently being held in Wuzhen, Zhejiang Province, with the theme “Embracing a People-Centered, AI-Driven Digital Future for Good – Building a Community with a Future shared in cyberspace,” highlights the importance of artificial intelligence in today’s world. With its rapid development, AI has emerged as both a promise and a challenge, pushing the boundaries of high-tech’s potential while raising profound ethical and social questions.
At the heart of this year’s conference, which began on Tuesday and concludes on Friday, is the notion of “People-Driven and AI for Good” – a call for the use of AI to serve the best interests of humanity and assume its social responsibilities. China realized this early and in 2019 released the “Governance Principles for Next-Generation Artificial Intelligence—Developing Responsible Artificial Intelligence,” which emphasizes the role of AI in improvement of human well-being and protection against risks. China’s subsequent release of the “Ethical Standards for the New Generation of Artificial Intelligence” in 2021 further highlighted the need to balance technological innovation with ethical considerations in the development of AI.
Although the potential of AI for social progress is immense, its application must be guided by careful thought and ethical principles. In this regard, the principle “People-Centered and AI-for-Good” goes beyond theoretical ethics and finds expression in concrete applications.
In education, China is using AI to help students in remote areas access learning tools, bridging the education gap. In the field of elderly care, humanoid robots help elderly people overcome many challenges. In healthcare, AI applications have played a vital role during the COVID-19 pandemic, improving diagnostic efficiency and accelerating vaccine development. During disaster relief, AI-based drones and robots are used to deal with crisis situations. And in rural revitalization, AI is used to find targeted solutions to resource distribution problems, transforming traditional sectors and boosting social development.
But AI has also created a range of problems, including structural unemployment, ethical dilemmas and security concerns. The proliferation of large AI models and the reduction of technical barriers could lead to misuse or abuse of AI technology, such as creating malware or spreading false information, which poses risks important safety features.
The increasing autonomy of AI, combined with problems such as poor explanations and the opacity of large models, introduces uncertainty into the decision-making process, creating new challenges around accountability and control. And the application of AI, such as humanoid robots, raises ethical questions.
To address these risks, government measures must align with the rapid pace of technological development, which can be ensured by adopting an agile approach to regulation, i.e. anticipating potential risks while avoiding excessive regulation that could stifle innovation.
First, by strengthening the social security system, particularly unemployment benefits, authorities can help mitigate the impact of technology-induced labor market disruptions. And by organizing training programs for workers, authorities can help them meet the demands of new job opportunities created by AI technology.
As large AI models gain traction, the question of security becomes paramount. In such a situation, it is necessary to establish unified evaluation systems and technical standards that guide the application of AI, ensuring safety, fostering innovation, and promoting healthy development.
China has moved to expand its AI capabilities in areas such as the digital economy and industrial automation. Accordingly, the Chinese government issued “Guiding Opinions on Accelerating Scenario Innovation and Promoting High-Quality Economic Development with High-Level Application of Artificial Intelligence” in 2022, which highlights the importance of AI-driven innovation in various industries.
However, China faces some challenges due to different levels of digital infrastructure across sectors. While sectors such as finance have robust data systems, manufacturing is lagging behind. Thus, the integration of data resources across sectors is crucial to accelerate China’s digital transformation.
As China advances its AI journey, it must shift its development from automation and information technology to intelligent systems. To achieve this, it must build a solid database and promote data sharing.
In today’s world of fierce global competition, China must continue to improve its theoretical and technical foundations of AI. Although China has a large AI talent pool and has made great progress in AI education, especially with the release of the “Next Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan” in 2017 , it still faces a shortage of high-end AI professionals.
Therefore, it should take measures to accelerate the development of domestic talents in the field of AI, as well as attract more international top talents. To develop high-end AI talents and meet the changing demands of an AI-driven economy, China should focus on interdisciplinary education and industry-academia collaboration.
The potential of AI to address global challenges, particularly in areas such as climate change and public health, is becoming increasingly evident. In fact, AI is already playing a critical role in solving serious global problems, from developing precision medicines to advancing environmental protection R&D efforts around the world.
However, while advancing AI development, it is equally important to ensure strong global governance. Countries must work together to mitigate potential risks and ensure that AI technologies are developed and deployed responsibly for the benefit of all. Effective communication and coordination are essential to advancing a global governance framework, establishing global standards, and ensuring that AI develops in a healthy manner. As a major player in the global AI landscape, China has consistently advocated for the inclusion of AI governance within the United Nations framework.
The development of AI across countries is not uniform. As a result, developed countries dominate AI technology, creating an “AI divide.” In response, China has adopted an inclusive approach to global AI governance. At the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2023, China introduced a resolution to strengthen global cooperation on AI capacity building, aiming to help developing countries to strengthen their AI capabilities, promote development for all and narrow the “AI gap”.
As AI continues to reshape the world, its trajectory will depend on how we choose to seize the opportunities it offers and overcome its pitfalls. So, while taking advantage of the potential of AI, we must remain vigilant and not shirk our responsibilities. AI development should aim to create a future in which AI is aligned with human values, ethical principles and the spirit of global cooperation. Only in this way can we ensure that AI becomes a force for good.
The author is director of the Policy and Strategy Research Center of the China Institute of Scientific and Technical Information. These views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
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