China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has released new draft guidelines aimed at standardizing the burgeoning artificial intelligence (AI) industry. The guidelines, posted on the ministry's website, propose the creation of more than 50 national and industry-wide standards for AI by 2026. Additionally, China aims to be actively involved in shaping over 20 international standards for AI by the same year. These measures come as China strives to close the gap on AI development with the United States, particularly after US company OpenAI made headlines with its groundbreaking chatbot, ChatGPT, in late 2022.

Beijing has been proactive in implementing regulations for AI, including the establishment of a licensing system for products similar to ChatGPT within the country. The release of these draft guidelines indicates China's commitment to establishing a comprehensive framework for the AI industry, which is an increasingly critical component of the global economy. As the race for AI supremacy continues to heat up, these proposed standards could play a pivotal role in shaping the future of AI development and collaboration on an international scale.