On Wednesday, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released preliminary guidelines aimed at standardizing the artificial intelligence (AI) industry. The ministry conveyed its intentions through a statement on its official website.

According to the proposed draft, China plans to establish over 50 national and industry-specific standards for AI by the year 2026. Additionally, the document outlines China’s goal of actively contributing to the development of more than 20 international standards for AI within the same timeframe.

This initiative aligns with China’s broader strategy to narrow the gap with the United States in the field of AI, especially following the impactful introduction of the ChatGPT chatbot by the U.S.-based company OpenAI at the close of 2022. In response to the rapid advancements in AI, Beijing has been proactively crafting regulations, including the implementation of a licensing system for products resembling ChatGPT within the country. These efforts signify China’s commitment to shaping the future of AI technology and ensuring its responsible and regulated development.