The following document is a set of regulations for the artificial intelligence industry in Shenzhen City in China’s Guangdong Province. The regulations aim to promote AI in Shenzhen, one of China’s tech hubs, but also stress the importance of ethical guidelines for the use of AI technology, so as to prevent AI systems from aiding discriminatory practices or infringing on individuals’ privacy.
The Chinese source text is available online at: http://www.szrd.gov.cn/szrd_zlda/szrd_zlda_flfg/flfg_szfg/content/post_834707.html
An archived version of the Chinese source text is available online at: https://perma.cc/6VKQ-NJZF
Regulations for the Promotion of the Artificial Intelligence Industry in Shenzhen Special Economic Zone
(Adopted at the 11th session of the Standing Committee of the Seventh People’s Congress of Shenzhen Municipality on August 30, 2022)
Contents
Chapter 1 General Provisions
Chapter 2 Basic Research and Technology Development
Chapter 3 Industrial Infrastructure Construction
Chapter 4 Application Scenario Expansion
Chapter 5 Promotion and Assurance
Chapter 6 Governance Principles and Measures
Chapter 7 Supplementary Provisions
Chapter 1 General Provisions
Article 1 These Regulations were formulated in accordance with relevant laws and administrative regulations and based on the actual situation of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone in order to promote the high-quality development of the artificial intelligence (AI) industry in the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, promote the in-depth integration and application of AI in economic and social fields, regulate the orderly development of the AI industry.
Article 2 The term Artificial Intelligence (AI) as used in these Regulations refers to the simulation, extension, or expansion of human intelligence by using computers or equipment controlled by them to sense the environment, acquire knowledge, perform deduction, and carry out other operations.
Article 3 The term AI Industry as used in these Regulations refers to core industries such as software and hardware product research, development, and production, system applications, and integration services related to AI as well as related industries driven by the integration and application of AI in the fields such as people’s livelihood services, social governance, and economic development.
Article 4 The development of the municipality’s AI industry follows the principles of being technology-led, application-driven, people-centered (以人为本), and secure and controllable (安全可控).
Article 5 The Municipal People’s Government shall establish a coordination mechanism for the development of the AI industry in the municipality, coordinate AI development and security work, promote the healthy and orderly development of the AI industry, give full play to the role of AI in promoting the sustainable development of the economy, society, ecology, and other areas.
Article 6 The Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology is the main oversight department (主管部门) for the AI industry (hereinafter referred to as the municipal main oversight department for the industry). It is responsible for implementing, coordinating, and supervising the development of the AI industry within its administrative jurisdiction.
The municipal departments for development and reform, education, science and technology (S&T) innovation, public security, finance, human resources and social security, planning and natural resources, ecological environment, housing and construction, transportation, commerce, health, state-owned assets, market supervision, statistics, urban management and comprehensive law enforcement, government service data management, and small- and medium-size enterprise services, along with the municipal cyberspace administration (网信) departments, are responsible for the work related to the development of the AI industry within the scope of their respective responsibilities.
Article 7 The development of the AI industry shall be included in the municipality’s national economic and social development plans, and the overall thinking, development goals, main tasks, and policy measures for the development of the AI industry shall be clarified.
The municipal main oversight department for the industry shall compile the municipality’s AI industry development plan and submit it to the Municipal People’s Government for approval before promulgation and implementation.
Article 8 The municipal market supervision departments shall, in conjunction with the municipal main oversight department for the industry and other relevant departments, establish and improve the local AI standards system.
They shall encourage institutions of higher learning, scientific research institutions, enterprises, and other organizations to participate in the formulation of international standards, national standards, industry standards, local standards, and group standards in the AI field.
Article 9 The Municipal Statistics Department and the municipal main oversight department for the industry shall, in conjunction with other relevant departments, establish and improve statistical classification standards for the AI industry, formulate and improve the statistical classification catalog for the AI industry, and carry out statistical investigation, monitoring, and analysis of the AI industry in an orderly manner.
Article 10 Relevant departments of the Municipal People’s Government shall conduct inclusive and prudent supervision of the AI industry in accordance with the principle of encouraging innovation. They shall formulate corresponding regulatory rules and standards adapted to the new technologies, new industries, new business formats (新业态), and new models of AI and implement categorized and graded supervision and management (分类分级监管).
Article 11 We shall encourage and support institutions of higher learning, scientific research institutions, enterprises, and other organizations to carry out international exchanges and cooperation in basic research, basic platforms, technology development, talent cultivation, and other areas and promote technological innovation and development.
Article 12 Under the premise of abiding by relevant laws and regulations and ethical safety norms, we shall promote the popularization and application of AI products and services, improve the awareness and capabilities of the whole society as regards AI applications, and promote the development of economic and social intelligentization (智能化).
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