Chinese scientific societies call for open global AI governance framework

Sixteen scientific societies affiliated with the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) have jointly issued a call for an open, fair, and inclusive global artificial intelligence governance system.

The groups, spanning fields including automation, electronics, computer science, and AI, published the Initiative of the Global Science and Technology Society on AI Governance. The document sets out principles centred on human welfare, security, and equitable participation in AI research and governance across all countries.

The initiative argues that increasing human well-being should be the guiding principle for AI research, with security as a baseline requirement. It also stresses that all countries should participate equally in AI governance, opposing what it describes as technological hegemony, academic barriers, and unreasonable monopolies.

The document calls on scientific and technological societies to expand international academic exchange and cooperation, and urges the promotion of AI for public benefit through what it terms pragmatic and effective measures.

Liang Zheng, director of the AI governance research centre at Tsinghua University, said China had consistently emphasised both development and security in its approach to global AI governance, and that scientific societies had a responsibility to build consensus and define boundaries in advancing AI for good.

The initiative follows a decision by CAST and several Chinese scientific groups in late March to boycott a major international AI conference after organisers cited a US sanctions list in barring certain Chinese scholars from submitting papers.

The groups said the move politicised academic exchange and contradicted the norms of the international academic community.