China’s Laws of Robotics: Shanghai publishes first humanoid robot guidelines

Humanoid robots should ‘safeguard human dignity’ and ‘not threaten human security’, say guidelines published during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference

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Several Chinese robotics firms have put their humanoid robots on display at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai this year. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 6:00pm, 7 Jul 2024

Shanghai has published China’s first governance guidelines for humanoid robots, calling for risk controls and international collaboration, as tech giants like Tesla showed off their own automatons at the country’s largest artificial intelligence (AI) conference.

Makers of humanoid robots should guarantee that their products “do not threaten human security” and “effectively safeguard human dignity”, according to a new set of guidelines published in Shanghai during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) on Saturday.

They should also take measures that include setting up risk warning procedures and emergency response systems, as well as give users training on the ethical and lawful use of these machines, according to the guidelines.

The document was penned by five Shanghai-based industry organisations including the Shanghai Law Society, Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Industry Association and the National and Local Humanoid Robot Innovation Centre.

Visitors look at Tesla’s humanoid robot Optimus at its exhibition booth during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai on July 5, 2024. Photo: AFP

The groups are advocating for global cooperation in the humanoid robot sector, as well, by recommending the establishment of a global governance framework and of an international think tank dedicated to governing the machines.