China is innovating with AI in public services at breathtaking speed. It is striding ahead in terms of its levels of investment, rate of experimentation and adoption, and breadth of applications. Policymakers around the world need to pay attention to developments in China and learn from what’s happening if they want to keep pace.

The essays in this collection show the benefit of a nuanced understanding of AI in China and offer some insights that might be unexpected. Challenging common misconceptions helps us understand what is really happening in China - in terms of what technologies are being used, who is involved and what the underlying motivations are.

• We learn, for example, that China’s innovation hasn't only been driven by cutting-edge technologies but also the skilful deployment and scaling of existing AI technologies. Rather than only looking to the most advanced technologies as solutions, policymakers in Europe could learn from China’s approach and consider how harnessing and scaling already-existing technologies might be an equally innovative way to improve services and solve problems.
• We also learn that China is engaged in discussions about the ethics of AI. This provides an opportunity to bring China into global AI governance conversations, and for Europe to draw on its strengths and be a co-operation partner in areas such as data protection and AI ethics.

While China’s authoritarian politics mean that there are significant elements of the government’s approach that should be condemned, it is important not to lose sight of all of China’s advances. Even if we disagree with China’s political system, there are still elements of its AI innovation that we could usefully learn from, and interesting ideas that could be adapted for a European context to benefit citizens.

• There are insights to be gained from China’s local innovation ecosystems and how they drive AI development and implementation – policymakers in Europe could assess which cities have the right conditions to build this kind of AI innovation ecosystem and support these to develop, through capital and other policy supports. In light of the UK’s regional levelling-up ambitions, this approach might be a particularly promising way to boost research and innovation throughout the UK.
• China’s agile and experimental approach to finding new AI applications for real-world problems is also worth attention. While it would not be replicable in a European context due to the regulatory environment, it is worth considering how experimentation methods such as regulatory sandboxes and innovation testbeds could be used to foster rapid AI innovation in important application areas.

Observing China’s use of AI in public services with a critical eye helps us pinpoint what’s concerning about China’s approach and identify where AI systems are being designed or implemented in ways that perpetuate inequalities, diminish citizens’ rights or give too much power to tech companies or governments. These insights offer a cautionary tale for what we should strive to avoid, and remind us of the need for open and equitable AI systems.

• There is a need for transparency about where, how and why AI is used in public services, and for accountability structures to be put in place, so that algorithmic decision-making processes remain open and auditable and citizens are able to challenge decisions they deem unfair.
• Citizens and civil society stakeholders should have a voice in decisions around data collection and the development of AI, to ensure that systems are designed and implemented in ways that are inclusive and protect citizens’ digital rights.

It is critical that policymakers around the world pay attention to how China is innovating with AI in public services if they want to learn from and keep pace with China’s advances. We hope these essays give readers a deeper understanding of China’s use of AI and challenge existing thinking. As well as offering new and useful ideas and insights, this collection should help readers to reflect on fundamental questions around the broader ethical, social and political implications of applying AI in public services.