China's Advanced AI Research: Monitoring China's Paths to "General" Artificial Intelligence

Abstract

China is following a national strategy to lead the world in artificial intelligence by 2030, including by pursuing “general AI” that can act autonomously in novel circumstances. Open-source research identifies 30 Chinese institutions engaged in one or more of this project‘s aspects, including machine learning, brain-inspired AI, and brain-computer interfaces. This report previews a CSET pilot program that will track China’s progress and provide timely alerts.

China’s Cognitive AI Research

“…China has been edging toward AGI since 2017-or, in the estimate of the authors of this study, earlier-when the concept was referenced in China's "New Generation AI Development Plan." 81 Although AI developers Baidu Research, Alibaba's DAMO Academy, and Tencent AI Lab on the commercial side; and the CAS Institute of Automation, Beijing Academy of AI, and sundry brain-inspired AI labs on the government side have research programs that may someday lead to AGI, the Beijing Institute is a watershed in China's development of the technology, having named AGI as its sole, state-backed purpose.…”

“…BIGAI's ability to coordinate its AGI program with other such efforts in China, including those that are biologically oriented, or with projects linking in vivo neurons with computers, would warrant particular scrutiny. 82 The move puts China in principle on the same footing as the United States and UK, whose commercial enterprises are also working toward AGI, raising concerns about governance and safety. The United States and allied governments are encouraged to monitor these developments to support mitigation in the case of strategic challenges and collaboration in areas where all parties can benefit.…”