Wang Yongqing, vice-chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), led a delegation of CPPCC National Committee members on a survey of the legal and ethical issues in the development of artificial intelligence in East China’s Jiangsu province from Sept 15 to 18.

The delegation communicated with more than 100 entrepreneurs, frontline researchers, experts and scholars from 19 local companies as well as research institutes and universities in Nanjing, Suzhou and Wuxi cities, and held talks with provincial governmental departments.

The delegates all agreed that the field research gave them a better understanding of the implementation of the decisions and plans of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and that they truly felt the achievements, advantages and potential of China's AI industry. The survey trip further enhanced their confidence in the high-quality growth of China's economy and society.

Wang noted Jiangsu has strengthened its overall planning and layout, insisted on application-driven and innovation-driven principles, and integrated development of AI and the real economy, which has effectively facilitated the industrial transformation, upgrading and innovation development in the province.

He expected Jiangsu to make further progress in talents training, key technology research and development, and leading enterprise cultivation while deeply studying AI-related legal, ethical and social issues, so as to better promote the AI sector’s high-quality growth in a safe and controllable way.

Wang stressed that the AI industry is in the ascendant phase and is a strategic technology leading a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation. He called for respect for the development law of the new generation of AI, a balance between innovation development and risk management, studying of the key issues of AI's technological and social attributes, and working on the trend of AI's risks in research and development and application stages. He suggested tailored risk prevention measures in the sector’s innovative development.

He also urged a task force to make in-depth research of the ethical, legal and other risk issues in AI innovation and development, carry out risk assessment and put forward suggestions on risk prevention.

Great efforts should be made to motivate R&D institutions and application parties to strengthen their internal autonomy, promote industry self-discipline, and advance the education and training of R&D and application personnel, so as to create a good environment for the industry, Wang added.