487 new AI algorithms from Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent approved in China

China has approved 487 new AI algorithms for use in deepfake technologies. These include products from major domestic tech companies such as Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent and foreign firms like Hewlett-Packard. The approval is part of the country’s regulatory efforts under the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), which mandates the registration of AI algorithms used in deepfakes. Notable approvals include Baidu’s image generator, Tencent’s search algorithm, and Alibaba’s document creation tool.

The green light for new algorithms is the second-largest since the regulations took effect in January 2023. The regulations aim to control technologies that create realistic virtual scenes using deep learning and augmented reality. Companies failing to comply face removal from domestic app stores. The CAC has released six allowlists, with the biggest batch of 492 algorithms approved in June.

Cai Peng, a partner at Beijing’s Zhong Lun Law Firm, notes that the increasing size of these lists indicates a more streamlined process between regulators and applicants. The roughly two-month application process involves detailed document submission and revisions as requested by the CAC.

The latest approvals include a healthcare knowledge algorithm for Douyin, a music generator from Microsoft’s Xiaoice, and a character dialogue generator for NetEase. Foreign brands like HP and Yum China also had their algorithms approved. China’s regulatory framework for AI, which includes mandatory registration of generative AI models before public use, reflects the country’s striving to leadership in AI regulation.