Opinion | Why many in China – unlike in the US – see AI as a force for good
- At least one survey in recent years has shown the difference in how people in China and the US view artificial intelligence
- The government’s adoption of the technology to improve people’s daily lives, and its use in many consumer-facing apps, have convinced Chinese people of its benefits
The 2023 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) held in Shanghai from July 6 to 8 attracted 400 companies and hundreds of thousands of attendees in-person and online. The public was wowed by exhibitions that included large language models, service robots making coffee, machines capable of carrying out precision surgery and metaverse mirrors that produce a moving image of one’s virtual self.
The event brought together business executives, academics and policymakers to share insights on trends in AI technology across industries and to discuss issues related to AI ethics and governance. The conference primarily aimed to highlight the benefits of AI.
It overlapped with the United Nations’ AI for Good summit in Geneva, where humanoid robots assured reporters at a press conference that they would not rebel against humans or steal our jobs.
What accounts for the difference in attitudes to AI in China and the US? The systematic embedding of AI into people’s everyday lives may be a critical factor in its wide acceptance in China.
For instance, artificial intelligence in China has been strategically integrated into urban landscapes. First, the government has adopted AI to improve infrastructure on which everyone relies. Second, AI operates in many consumer-facing apps which the public is already comfortable with.
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