China Internet Watchdog to Tighten Rules on Generative AI

China is tightening its rules on generative AI with plans to crack down on AI-generated content.

Chinese internet watchdog, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), is drafting rules that would force businesses to obtain a license to release generative AI models, FT reports.

A person close to the CAC said that “if Beijing intends to completely control and censor the information created by AI, they will require all companies to obtain prior approval from the authorities.”

Just last month, CAC Director Zhuang Rongwen said the agency wants AI to be “reliable and controllable.”

One individual has already been arrested in China for using ChatGPT, which is technically banned in China, to generate “fake news.”

The prospective rules are considered an expansion of the already tough draft regulation proposed in April that would force providers to go through a security review before they can release the models to the public.

Chinese companies that have launched generative AI applications this year, like Baidu with Ernie, have reportedly worked closely with agencies like the CAC to ensure they don’t fall foul of any prospective rules.

Beijing previously pledged to support local businesses trying to build generative AI tools. Just last week, Alibaba launched an AI image generation platform, Tongyi Wanxiang.