Beijing set to tap AI potential, reduce risks

The ongoing 2024 World Internet Conference in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province, themed "Embracing a People-Centered and AI-for-Good Digital Future — Building a Community with a Shared Future 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 potential while raising profound ethical and social questions.

At the heart of this year's conference, which began on Tuesday and will conclude on Friday, is the notion of "People-Centered and AI-for-Good" — a call for using AI to serve humankind's best interests and fulfill social responsibilities. China realized this fact early, and issued the "Governance Principles for the New Generation Artificial Intelligence — Developing Responsible Artificial Intelligence" in 2019, which emphasizes AI's role in advancing human welfare and safeguarding against risks. The subsequent release of the "Ethical Norms for the New Generation of Artificial Intelligence "by China in 2021 further highlighted the necessity of balancing technological innovation with ethical considerations in the development of AI.

While AI's potential to drive social progress is immense, its application must be guided by careful thought and ethical principles. In this regard, the "People-Centered and AI-for-Good" principle goes beyond theoretical ethics, finding expression in real-world applications.

In the field of education, China is using AI to help students in remote areas access learning tools, bridging the educational gap. In eldercare, humanoid robots are helping elderly people overcome numerous challenges. In healthcare, AI applications played a critical role during the COVID-19 pandemic, enhancing diagnostic efficiency and accelerating vaccine development. In disaster relief, AI-powered drones and robots are being 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 stimulating social development.

But AI has also created a range of problems, including structural unemployment, ethical dilemma and safety concerns. The proliferation of large AI models and reduced technical barriers could lead to the misuse or abuse of AI technology, such as the creation of malicious software or the spread of misinformation, which pose significant security risks.

AI's increasing autonomy, combined with issues such as poor explanations and opacity in large models, introduces uncertainty into the decision-making process, creating new challenges of 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 — anticipating potential risks while avoiding overregulation that could stifle innovation.

To begin with, by strengthening the social security system, particularly unemployment benefits, the authorities can help mitigate the impact of technology-induced disruptions in the job market. And by organizing training programs for workers, the authorities can help workers fulfill the requirements for the new job opportunities created by AI technology.

As large AI models gain traction, the issue of security becomes paramount. In such a situation, it is necessary to establish unified evaluation systems and technical standards that guide AI's application, ensuring safety, promoting innovation and fostering healthy development.

China has set out to expand its AI capability in fields such as the digital economy and industrial automation. Accordingly, the Chinese government issued the "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 because of the different levels of digital infrastructure across industries. While sectors such as finance have robust data systems, manufacturing lags behind. Thus, integrating data resources across industries is crucial for accelerating China's digital transformation.

As China progresses on its AI journey, it has to shift its development path from automation and information technology to intelligent systems. To support this, it needs to build a solid data foundation and promote data sharing.

In today's world of fierce global competition, China must continue to improve its theoretical and technical foundations in AI. While China boasts a large AI talent pool and has taken big strides in AI education, particularly 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 expedite the development of domestic talents in AI, as well as attract more top-tier international talents. To develop high-end AI talents and meet the evolving demands of the AI-driven economy, China should focus on interdisciplinary education and industry-academia collaboration.

AI's potential 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 R&D efforts in environmental protection worldwide.

However, while advancing AI development, it is equally important to ensure robust global governance. Countries should work together to mitigate potential risks and ensure AI technologies are developed and deployed responsibly for the benefit of all. Effective communication and coordination are essential to advancing a global governance framework, setting global standards and ensuring that AI develops in a healthy way. As a major player in the global AI landscape, China has consistently advocated for the inclusion of AI governance under the UN 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 UN General Assembly in 2023, China introduced a resolution to enhance global cooperation on AI capacity building, in a bid to help developing countries boost their AI capability, promote development for all and narrow the "AI divide".

As AI continues to reshape the world, its trajectory will depend on how we choose to seize the opportunities it offers and navigate its pitfalls. So, while embracing AI's potential, we must remain vigilant and not shirk our responsibility. The development of AI should be aimed at creating a future where AI is aligned with human values, ethical principles and the spirit of global cooperation. Only by doing so can we ensure AI becomes a force for good.

The author is the Director of the Policy and Strategy Research Center, Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.