China issues guidelines to regulate, promote AI agents

China has issued a set of guidelines to promote the regulated application and innovative development of AI agents, as part of broader efforts to advance the country's "AI Plus" initiative.

The guidelines were jointly released recently by the Cyberspace Administration of China, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. They are aimed at implementing the State Council's guidelines on further advancing the "AI Plus" initiative and supporting the healthy development of AI agents.

According to the document, AI agents refer to intelligent systems capable of autonomous perception, memory, decision-making, interaction and execution. It noted that AI agents are becoming increasingly integrated with cyberspace and the physical world, bringing profound changes to production, daily life and social governance.

The guidelines said the development of AI agents should follow the principles of safety and controllability, standardized and orderly development, innovation-driven growth and application-led progress.

The document outlines measures in four key areas. It calls for efforts to strengthen the foundation for AI agent development by improving the technological base and building standards and protocols.

It also stresses the need to safeguard security by clarifying product requirements, preventing safety risks, improving governance systems and strengthening industry self-discipline.

The document further calls for stronger application-driven development. It outlines 19 typical application scenarios in areas including scientific research, industrial development, consumption promotion, public well-being and social governance.

In addition, it urges efforts to build an innovation ecosystem, promote industrial cooperation and expand the application of AI agents.

The three central departments said they will work with relevant parties to strengthen overall planning, improve supporting policies, enhance coordination among authorities and ensure the implementation of key tasks.