Chinese regulators have proposed restrictive rules around AI models like ChatGPT being built in the country, requiring user identification and security reviews, and prohibiting "any content that subverts state power, advocates the overthrow of the socialist system, incites splitting the country or undermines national unity." The rules come hot on the heels of Chinese tech companies rolling out their versions of general purpose large language models, versatile AI systems that can converse in natural language and carry out a surprising number of tasks. While the reception of SenseTime, Baidu, and Alibaba's models over the last month suggests they're somewhat behind the likes of GPT-4, it's clear the industry there is equally dedicated to developing these capabilities. Unfortunately, shortly after the debut of Alibaba's Tongyi Qianwen model, one of the country's tech regulators, the Cyberspace Administration of China, proposed restrictions that may smother relevant innovations -- and the Chinese AI industry's ambitions along with them. The draft rules are not available in English (I took the above quote from the Financial Times translation syndicated at Ars Technica) but can be viewed at the regulator's website here.

China's technology giant Alibaba has unveiled a generative artificial intelligence model – its version of the technology that powers chatbot sensation ChatGPT – and said it would be integrated into all of the company's apps in the near future. The unveiling on Tuesday was swiftly followed by the Chinese government's publication of draft rules outlining how generative artificial intelligence services should be managed. In a demonstration, the AI language model named Tongyi Qianwen – which means "truth from a thousand questions" – drafted invitation letters, planned trip itineraries, and advised shoppers on types of makeup to buy. Tongyi Qianwen will initially be integrated into DingTalk, Alibaba's workplace messaging app and can be used to summarise meeting notes, write emails, and draft business proposals. It will also be added to Tmall Genie, Alibaba's voice assistant. The technology "will bring about big changes to the way we produce, the way we work, and the way we live our lives", CEO Daniel Zhang told the livestreamed event.

Jan 28 (Reuters) - China's cyberspace regulator issued draft rules on Friday for content providers that alter facial and voice data, the latest measure to crack down on "deepfakes" and mould a cyberspace that promotes Chinese socialist values. The rules are aimed at further regulating technologies such as those using algorithms to generate and modify text, audio, images and videos, according to documents published on the website of the Cyberspace Administration of China. Any platform or company that uses deep learning or virtual reality to alter any online content, what the CAC calls "deep synthesis service providers", will now be expected to "respect social morality and ethics, adhere to the correct political direction". The regulations provide for people to be protected from being impersonated without their consent by deepfakes - images that are virtually indistinguishable from the original, and easily used for manipulation or misinformation. "Where a deep synthesis service provider provides significant editing functions for biometric information such as face and human voice, it shall prompt the (provider) to notify and obtain the individual consent of the subject whose personal information is being edited," Article 12 of the draft says.

The southern Chinese city of Shenzhen is close to enacting the country's first legislation on intelligent connected vehicles including autonomous cars. The city's legislative body conducted a second review Monday of draft rules on the administration of intelligent connected vehicles and will hold a third review in August before the measure becomes law, Caixin learned. The booming metropolis of more than 17 million people is a leading Asian financial center and one of China's wealthiest cities. Currently, new vehicles need to be included on a list of manufacturers and products released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and must meet certain national standards before they are allowed to hit the road. As China has yet to establish a national standard for intelligent connected vehicles, the MIIT list doesn't include any Level 3 autonomous vehicles.

The Justice Ministry will impose new regulations on Japanese-language schools in October to ensure students who enter Japan to learn the language do not spend the majority of their stay working instead of studying. The change was implemented after one applicant raised the ministry's eyebrows by asking about setting up a school that would be in session for just half a year, presumably so students could use the longer holiday period to work. Under current student visa conditions, students can work up to 40 hours a week when their schools are on holiday and 28 hours when they are in session. Although there were previously no rules on how long a school should be in session, the new rule will require schools to be in session for at least 35 weeks a year. "The main duty of a student is to study," said Justice Ministry official Tetsuya Soga, who explained that the new rule is intended as a way to clarify that students should be putting their effort into studying rather than working.

The National Police Agency on Thursday unveiled draft rules for testing driverless vehicles on public roads while the vehicles are being monitored remotely. At present no vehicle can proceed along a public road without someone in the driver's seat. Once the rules are officially in place, the agency will start accepting applications to conduct tests this summer, at the earliest. Japan is seeking to promote the development of self-driving car technology in the run-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics amid an international race to develop autonomous vehicles. "The development of automated driving could help the elderly secure a means of transportation, slash the number of traffic accidents and ease traffic congestion," said an agency official.