The Chinese Approach to Artificial Intelligence: an Analysis of Policy, Ethics, and Regulation

Roberts, H., Cowls, J., Morley, J. et al. The Chinese approach to artificial intelligence: an analysis of policy, ethics, and regulation. AI & Soc 36, 59–77 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-020-00992-2

46 Pages Posted: 23 Oct 2019 Last revised: 2 Mar 2021

See all articles by Huw Roberts

Huw Roberts

University of Oxford - Oxford Internet Institute

Josh Cowls

University of Oxford - Oxford Internet Institute

Jessica Morley

University of Oxford - Bennett Institute of Applied Data Science

Mariarosaria Taddeo

University of Oxford - Oxford Internet Institute

Vincent Wang

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Luciano Floridi

Yale University - Digital Ethics Center; University of Bologna- Department of Legal Studies

Date Written: September 1, 2019

Abstract

In July 2017, China’s State Council released the country’s strategy for developing artificial intelligence (AI), entitled ‘New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan’ (新一代人工智能发展规划). This strategy outlined China’s aims to become the world leader in AI by 2030, to monetise AI into a trillion-yuan (ca. 150 billion dollars) industry, and to emerge as the driving force in defining ethical norms and standards for AI. Several reports have analysed specific aspects of China’s AI policies or have assessed the country’s technical capabilities. Instead, in this article, we focus on the socio-political background and policy debates that are shaping China’s AI strategy. In particular, we analyse the main strategic areas in which China is investing in AI and the concurrent ethical debates that are delimiting its use. By focusing on the policy backdrop, we seek to provide a more comprehensive and critical understanding of China’s AI policy by bringing together debates and analyses of a wide array of policy documents.

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence; China; Digital Ethics; Governance; Innovation; New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan; Policy

Suggested Citation

Roberts, Huw and Cowls, Josh and Morley, Jessica and Taddeo, Mariarosaria and Wang, Vincent and Floridi, Luciano, The Chinese Approach to Artificial Intelligence: an Analysis of Policy, Ethics, and Regulation (September 1, 2019). Roberts, H., Cowls, J., Morley, J. et al. The Chinese approach to artificial intelligence: an analysis of policy, ethics, and regulation. AI & Soc 36, 59–77 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-020-00992-2, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3469784 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3469784

Huw Roberts

University of Oxford - Oxford Internet Institute ( email )

1 St. Giles
University of Oxford
Oxford OX1 3PG Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire OX1 3JS
United Kingdom

HOME PAGE: http://https://digitalethicslab.oii.ox.ac.uk/huw-roberts/

Josh Cowls

University of Oxford - Oxford Internet Institute ( email )

1 St. Giles
University of Oxford
Oxford OX1 3PG Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire OX1 3JS
United Kingdom

Jessica Morley

University of Oxford - Bennett Institute of Applied Data Science ( email )

Mariarosaria Taddeo

University of Oxford - Oxford Internet Institute ( email )

1 St. Giles
University of Oxford
Oxford OX1 3PG Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire OX1 3JS
United Kingdom

Vincent Wang

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Luciano Floridi (Contact Author)

Yale University - Digital Ethics Center ( email )

85 Trumbull Street
New Haven, CT CT 06511
United States
2034326473 (Phone)

University of Bologna- Department of Legal Studies ( email )

Via Zamboni 22
Bologna, Bo 40100
Italy

HOME PAGE: http://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/luciano.floridi/en

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