China’s short-video platform Kuaishou Technology recently launched its text-to-video model called Kling, joining other Chinese tech companies in challenging Western tech giants. The model created quite a storm with users finding Kling to outperform OpenAI’s Sora.
While the US is debating heavily on AI ethics and incorporating ‘Responsible AI’, China seems unperturbed and is probably responding to these AI ethicists with Kling.
Ethics in the Way of Innovation?
“When innovation happens and technology explodes, this explosion creates numerous benefits but also raises questions. If we don’t allow this explosion to occur, there will be no innovation,” said TV Mohandas Pai, chairman at Aarin Capital, at IGIC 2024.
Referencing UPI and its data security concerns, Pai spoke about how the government has access to our data.
“Some may argue that the data is at risk, but frankly, I don’t care if the government sees my data. I want the data to be used productively, and as a sophisticated individual, I want my data protected by the government,” he said.
Pai also highlighted how concerns about government surveillance are secondary considering the vast amount of personal data already being accessible to Google, Facebook, and the NSA on US servers.
China’s Approach to AI Development
Source: Reddit
Despite pressing concerns about the ethical and privacy implications of AI, China remains a central player on the global stage.
In October 2023, Chinese tech giant Baidu unveiled Ernie 4.0, the latest version of its generative AI model, claiming capabilities comparable to OpenAI’s GPT-4.
This significant advancement highlights China’s rapid progress in AI, driven by substantial government support and strategic initiatives like the ‘New Generation Artificial Development Plan’.
Launched in 2017, this plan aims to position China as a global AI leader by 2023, emphasising research funding, talent recruitment, and infrastructure development. These efforts underscore China’s commitment to dominating the AI sector, often pushing the boundaries of ethical and privacy considerations.
China’s AI development is also fueled by leading companies including Tencent, Alibaba, Baidu, and SenseTime, which attract top group talent and drive innovation.
Meanwhile, China’s strides in hardware and robotics, with companies like Dreame Technology and Fourier Intelligence at the forefront, reflect a comprehensive approach to AI applications.
Additionally, China’s advancements in facial recognition technology, widely deployed in public spaces, illustrate the country’s capability to implement AI solutions on a large scale. These often move rapidly as ethical concerns are not always given paramount importance.
West Focuses on Ethics Over Progress?
Recently, the OpenAI Board formed a safety and security committee. It will be responsible for making recommendations on critical safety and security decisions for all the projects of OpenAI.
This move came amid ongoing debates about AI safety at the San Francisco startup, heightened by the resignations of researcher Jan Leike and co-founder Ilya Sutskever, who criticised the company for prioritising product development over safety.
Further, Elizabeth Adams, chief AI ethics advisor at Paravison, stated, “We must hold AI developers accountable for their systems’ performance and impacts. To start, let’s educate ourselves on AI’s societal effects through online courses, webinars, and informational videos. Engaging in social media and community forums can raise awareness about ethical AI.”
What’s Next?
China is only two years behind the US in AI development and a formidable player in the global race among developed countries.
Google’s former CEO Eric Schmidt emphasised that while China is focused on dominating several industries, the US still holds a significant lead in AI. Speaking at the AI Expo for National Competitiveness, Schmidt remarked, “In the case of AI, we are probably two or three years ahead of China, which in my world is an eternity.”
It’s clear that new AI advancements might impact ethical standards in one way or another, however, looking at China’s route of development, it is clear that compromising on ethics and privacy is acceptable for progress.
