Artificial Intelligence has started to become a main tenet of every modern-day service. From social media algorithms to automatic price setting in apps, AI tech is inescapable. However, China's new AI regulations may make living with artificial intelligence just that little bit easier.
China's new AI regulations could change everything
Reported by Wired, China is just over a week away from changing the way big tech companies utilise Artificial Intelligence. On March 1st, new regulatory standards will see companies alter their AI algorithms to appease the Chinese government.
The new regulations aim to squash companies’ invasive algorithms that discriminate against users. Additionally, algorithms that fuel addictive content streams will also be heavily limited. This means that social media platforms will have to change the way in which content is delivered to users.
These regulations come amid massive reform for Big Tech in Chinese regions. President Xi Jinping claimed the ongoing crackdown aims to stomp out “some unhealthy and disorderly signals and trends have occurred in the rapid development of our country’s digital economy”.
Among China's new AI regulations, moves will be taken to clean up some of the worst parts of the Internet. For example, new rules ban the use of fake accounts, phony reviews, manipulated popularity data and more.
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Of course, there's still bad
Not all of the new rules are good additions, and there's still one massive factor missing from China's new AI regulations. For everything China is doing right to fix massive parts of the Internet, its government is also overstepping in other ways.
For example, a controversial aspect of the Chinese government's Internet regulations is the control of childrens’ extracurricular activities. In a new rule, China forces children to only three hours of gaming time a week. This rule is still in effect despite healthcare professionals explaining that it will actually harm children.
Furthermore, China's new AI regulations don't do anything to limit the creation of AI weaponry. Military professionals have stated that the region is far ahead of other counties in this regard, and China seemingly isn't rushing to cripple its own military.
Crucially, China also isn't doing anything to regulate The Metaverse, the next step in Internet technology. With platforms like Facebook already suffering from child exploitation in the virtual world, it's a wonder that China isn't doing anything to limit its homegrown Metaverses like Tencent and Baidu.
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A Total Mixed Bag
All in all, China's plans to tackle major Internet and AI issues are, in some places, good. However, the country's government isn't pure in its focus. For every fake review ban there's an overstep of responsibility.
Maybe, some of these regulations will take off elsewhere; a worldwide ban of fake reviews would be great. However, that all depends on what regulations world powers want to pick and choose to implement. After all, nothing will ever be perfect.