In the heart of Nanning, the capital of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the 2026 China Internet Civilization Conference is currently underway, bringing together a diverse array of voices to shape the future of the digital landscape. From May 19 to 20, government officials, industry titans, and scholars have gathered to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and the development of a positive online civilization.
A central highlight of the event was a specialized forum dedicated to AI governance. Experts emphasized that as AI becomes more integrated into physical systems and networked infrastructure, the risks associated with these technologies extend across their entire life cycle—from the initial development phase to final application.
Guan Xiaohong, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, noted that AI system security has evolved beyond a mere technical challenge. He argued that AI security is now a critical pillar of the broader cyber security framework. To combat emerging threats, Guan advocated for a holistic governance strategy that merges advanced technology with robust management, stressing that security awareness must be embedded into the very design of these systems.
A significant milestone was achieved during the conference with the release of the "AI Application Ethics and Security Guidelines 1.0" by the National Information Security Standardization Technical Committee. This pivotal document provides a comprehensive roadmap for the ethical development and usage of AI, aiming to ensure that technological growth remains secure, controllable, and orderly.
The 2026 conference, which features a main forum and 14 targeted sub-forums, underscores the commitment of the Chinese mainland to fostering a safer and more constructive online environment. By bridging the gap between innovation and regulation, the event highlights a strategic effort to harness AI for the benefit of digital culture while mitigating systemic risks.
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China discusses AI governance at internet civilization conference
cgtn.com
