AI in spotlight at China's 'two sessions'

Riding on the global fanfare over Chinese tech startup DeepSeek, artificial intelligence (AI) has unsurprisingly become a buzzword at China's ongoing "two sessions," as observers eagerly watch how it will fit into the nation's rejuvenation drive.

DeepSeek and AI have been frequently mentioned in discussions and at press conferences of the annual sessions of the National People's Congress, China's national legislature, and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the top political advisory body.

"In recent days, if people fail to mention DeepSeek, they will seem not to catch up with the trend," Wu Qing, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, said at a press conference on the sidelines of the "two sessions," noting DeepSeek's contribution to the recent re-evaluation of Chinese assets.

According to the government work report submitted to the national legislature session for deliberation, China will foster the growth of industries, including embodied AI, and support the extensive application of large-scale AI models.

It is the first time that "embodied AI," or AI with a physical form such as a robot, and "large-scale AI models," represented by DeepSeek, have made it into the annual report.

Bridging tech divide

The "two sessions" are a key political event that decides on China's development agenda including growth targets, passes laws, and discusses matters of great public interest, among other functions. This year, in response to the growing attention to DeepSeek, lawmakers and political advisers are exploring ways to harness the increasingly popular AI technology.

Liu Shangxi, a national political adviser, told the media that DeepSeek and its open-source AI model are essentially about democratizing access to advanced technology.

"High costs and huge investments used to limit AI accessibility," said the former president of the Chinese Academy of Fiscal Science. "Now, AI technology can be accessed by the general public."

Referring to the China-proposed Global AI Governance Initiative, Lou Qinjian, spokesperson for the third session of the 14th NPC, said that it will help bridge the technological divide and prevent sci-tech innovation from becoming "a game of the rich countries and the wealthy."

China's ongoing tech boom has integrated AI across industry, education, health care, governance, and social life. AI's significance is further underscored by the fact that it is recognized as a new quality productive force.

Zhu Songchun, a national political adviser and director of the Beijing Institute for General Artificial Intelligence, plans to submit a proposal on supporting emerging AI specialists to meet the industry's growing demands.

"Universities have rushed to establish AI institutes but encountered difficulties in recruiting deans, as well as qualified and sufficient faculty," Zhu said.

Regulations called for

Discussions at the "two sessions" have also focused on the misuse of AI, with calls for improved regulations in the sector.

Last year, AI hit national news headlines after swindlers used AI-generated images of actor Jin Dong to defraud members of his fan base.

Jin, also a national political adviser, denounced such "heinous acts and crimes" during the ongoing CPPCC session. He called for the establishment of industry regulations for AI applications.

Lei Jun, an NPC deputy and founder of tech giant Xiaomi, this year presented a suggestion on curbing the abuse of AI-powered face-swapping and voice cloning technology.

Lei, whose company's products range from smartphones to electric cars featuring extensive AI use, called for a single-subject law, enhanced industry self-discipline, and efforts to raise public awareness of AI.

Li Jinghong, a national political adviser and a professor at Tsinghua University, plans to suggest the introduction of a law on AI promotion that covers a wide range of AI-related issues, such as talent cultivation, employment protection, international cooperation, and copyright and intellectual property protection.

AI replacement?

According to a 2024 China Internet Network Information Center report, the user base of generative AI products in China totaled 230 million by June 2024, and the country has built a relatively comprehensive AI industry ecosystem with over 4,500 related companies.

Some deputies and political advisers approached by Xinhua said they had already used AI assistants to help them perform their duties.

"AI is like a librarian, helping me locate information during my research before I draft proposals," said Zhao Xiaoguang, a national political adviser and a researcher at the Institute of Automation under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, adding that the AI use was with great caution.

As brainstorming related to the role of AI is underway at the Great Hall of the People, another essential question has been raised: To what extent shall we leverage AI without losing our edge?

He Guanghua, a national lawmaker and a skilled technician at the State Grid Wuxi Power Supply Company, underscored the vital role of real-world research in fulfilling her duties in the AI era.

"While information is readily accessible in today's world of AI, we must also engage directly with the people, whether in villages, factories or communities, to conduct in-depth, on-the-ground research," she said.

"A deputy's duties require both brainwork and legwork," she added.