China has formed a new government body, the China Electronic Standardization Institute, to develop a national standard for large language models (LLMs).

 

China has formed a new government body, the China Electronic Standardization Institute, to develop a national standard for large language models (LLMs).  Beijing is seeking to rein in generative AI that doesn't match its core values without stifling innovation in the emerging field. Chinese tech giants Baidu, Alibaba Group Holding, Huawei Technologies, and 360 Security Technology will lead a task force responsible for creating the new LLM standard. The institute falls under China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), which oversees areas like the internet, telecommunications, and computer and other electronic hardware and software. In April, China's internet regulator unveiled a draft law that would require new generative AI products to undergo a security review before they're launched. AI-created content would also be required to "reflect core socialist values" and "not contain content on subversion of state power," the rules state. While Chinese tech companies have been rolling out their own ChatGPT-like LLM applications, the regulator, known as the Cyberspace Administration of China, still needs to issue licenses for generative AI products. The administration's director, Zhuang Rongwen, recently said it's the government's aim to "make sure AI is reliable and controllable."