- According to the roadmap issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and three other administrative bodies, China aims to roll out more than 50 national and industrial AI standards by 2026. Over 1,000 Chinese companies are expected to adopt these standards. It also mentions that China will participate in the drafting of at least 20 international AI standards.
- These 50+ standards span three layers – the infrastructure layer, the technology layer, and the application layer – covering the AI industry chain from AI chips to large model applications in sectoral scenarios. The 12 critical areas identified for the technology layer shed light on the focus of technical input over the next few years.
- The standards specify the technical requirements that companies are encouraged to follow in order to comply with binding regulations, such as the more recent „Management Measures of Generative AI Services.“ However, recommended standards in China may be de-facto mandatory in practice, as they have been cited as the legal basis for administrative penalties for non-compliance.
- The standardization process in China is characterized by close collaboration between government officials, industry experts and the academic community. The collaboration is steered by Technical Committees (TCs) which are responsible for standardization at the national level for a specific area. So far, AI-related standards have been drafted under the guidance of TC260 which is in charge of cybersecurity standardization and TC28/SC42, the AI division of the Information Technology Technical Committee.
- However, the MIIT recently published a plan to set up a TC specifically for AI standardization. This highlights the strategic importance of AI and calls for a dedicated standardization committee. The new TC is expected to lead the implementation of the roadmap.
Sinolytics is a research-based business consultancy entirely focused on China. It advises European companies on their strategic orientation and specific business activities in the People’s Republic.