[News] China Plans to Set at Least 50 AI Standards by 2026, from Language Models to Semiconductors

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China aims to establish at least 50 AI standards by 2026, as outlined in a new draft policy from Beijing, according to a report by South China Morning Post. The draft policy, released on Tuesday by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), will not only cover training for large language models (LLMs), but even semiconductors.

This initiative is part of China’s effort to catch up with the U.S. in AI development, the report noted. Earlier in April, Alibaba’s chairman, Joe Tsai, mentioned in an interview that China is at least two years behind its leading US counterparts, like OpenAI and Google, in the global AI race.

China’s proposed standards will cover training for large language models (LLMs), which are the foundation of generative AI services like ChatGPT. Additionally, they will address safety, governance, industrial applications, software, computing systems, data centers, and the technical requirements and testing methodologies for semiconductors.

According to MIIT, these standards are expected to apply to at least 1,000 Chinese technology companies. The document also states that China will participate in creating at least 20 international AI standards, the report said.

MIIT’s draft policy identifies 12 critical technologies in the AI supply chain, including LLMs, natural language processing, computer vision, and machine learning, which involves systems performing complex tasks akin to human problem-solving. The draft policy also identifies four layers that comprise China’s AI industry chain: the foundation (including the computing power, algorithms, and data needed to train LLMs), the framework, the model, and applications.

Citing an industrial expert, the report indicated that the latest draft policy, unlike the usual command-and-control regulations, has adopted a pro-market, soft-law approach to guide and promote China’s AI industry. This stance, which is comparatively innovation-oriented and market-friendly, will not only enable the establishment and development of an AI ecosystem, but benefit other industries as well.

China’s tech giants, led by Huawei, has been aggressively advancing in the AI arena. Previously, Huawei claimed its second-generation AI chip “Ascend 910B” could compete with NVIDIA’s A100 and was working to replace NVIDIA, which holds over 90% of the market share in China. However, according to ChosunBiz, the chip, being manufactured by China’s leading semiconductor foundry, SMIC, has been in mass production for over half a year, yet the yield rate remains around 20%.

On the other hand, in response to US export bans, NVIDIA has commenced to sell H20, its AI chip tailored for the Chinese market earlier this year.

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