Key Points
- First-of-its-kind media AI standard: Released on March 21, 2024 by China Media Group (CMG, 中央广播电视总台), the "AI Usage Guidelines for China Media Group (Trial)" is China's first regulatory framework specifically targeting AI use in media production and dissemination.
- Core principles: AI applications must comply with laws and industry standards, adhere to socialist core values, follow a human-centered approach, and promote "AI for good". Content authenticity is treated as a red line.
- Operational requirements: Mandates strict content review, mandatory labeling of AI-generated material, human-in-the-loop verification, and safeguards for data privacy and intellectual property.
- Governance mechanism: A multi-department system handles evaluation, review, access approval, project reporting, and penalties. Periodic inspections and dynamic updates are planned.
- Scope and limitations: Applies to CMG internal scenarios such as news production, AI animation (e.g., *Qianqiu Shisong*), and translation projects. It does not comprehensively regulate external commercial AI tools, and critics note insufficient coverage of generative AI risks such as deepfakes and misinformation.
- Strategic context: Part of CMG's "5G + 4K/8K + AI" strategy and the national "AI Plus" initiative, positioning CMG as a pioneer in media AI standardization.
- Future outlook: The trial version is expected to be refined through subsequent white papers (e.g., the 2025 CMG AI Development White Paper) and aligned with national AI governance frameworks.
- Evaluation: Technical compliance checks.
- Review: Content orientation verification.
- Access approval: Approval for new AI tools.
- Reporting: Project registration requirements.
- Penalties: Disciplinary actions for violations, applied according to severity.
- Southern Net: China's first media AI usage guidelines released
- CNRMG: Signals from CMG's new AI guidelines
- CCTV: Accelerating AI Plus initiative
- TVTech: 2025 CMG AI Development White Paper interpretation
- Wen Wei Po: First media AI usage guidelines
- Sohu: Signals from CMG's new AI guidelines
- All-China Journalists Association: March media events
- Tencent Research Institute: 7 changes in journalism in the AI era
Background and Strategic Significance
The rapid advancement of generative AI—including large language models, image and video synthesis tools—has reshaped media content creation and distribution. CMG, as China's national broadcaster, launched the guidelines to balance innovation with regulatory oversight, reflecting its "thought + art + technology" strategy. Internationally, the framework shares similarities with the EU AI Act in risk-tiered classification but places stronger emphasis on political alignment and ethical direction.
Core Principles
| Principle | Key Requirements | |-----------|------------------| | Correct orientation | AI-generated content must align with mainstream values and be positive and healthy. | | Human-centered | AI assists rather than replaces human judgment; mandatory human review. | | AI for good | Prevent misuse such as deepfakes; directly quote: "promote AI for good, and steer AI with mainstream values." | | Inclusive and prudent | Classified and tiered management based on risk levels (e.g., entertainment vs. news). | | Compliance | Strict adherence to laws, industry standards, data security, and privacy. |
Specific Application Requirements
1. Content production: AI-generated content must be positive, factual, and free from harmful narratives. The guidelines cite responsibility to deliver "true, objective, and comprehensive news reports." 2. Review and labeling: All AI-generated or AI-assisted content must be clearly labeled. High-risk applications such as video synthesis require multi-layer review. 3. Data security: Training data must be legally sourced; personal information and intellectual property must be protected. CMG will leverage its proprietary audio-visual assets to build domain-specific AI models. 4. Use cases: Examples include AI animation *Qianqiu Shisong*, AI documentary *Lailongqumai*, and the AI-powered classical text series *AI Kan Dianji* (launched March 22, 2024).
Supervision and Implementation
A multi-department coordination mechanism covers:
Regular inspections and dedicated personnel oversee implementation. As a trial version, the guidelines will be iterated based on feedback, with potential expansion detailed in the 2025 CMG AI White Paper.
Impact and Outlook
The guidelines signal compliance expectations for the broader media industry, potentially influencing other broadcasters such as Beijing Radio and Television Station. Globally, they contribute to discussions on "Chinese characteristics" in AI governance, raising questions about innovation freedom versus state direction. Looking ahead, CMG plans deeper integration of AI into audiovisual production, aiming to mature media AI standards by 2025.