China has unveiled a set of guidelines aimed at regulating and advancing the innovative development of artificial intelligence (AI) agents, as the country accelerates efforts under its “AI plus” initiative.

The guidelines, jointly issued by the Cyberspace Administration of China, the National Development and Reform Commission(NDRC) and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology(MIIT), are intended to support the implementation of the State Council’s “AI plus” action plan and promote the orderly growth of intelligent agents as key forms of AI products and services, according to an official statement.

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The document defines AI agents as intelligent systems capable of autonomous perception, memory, decision-making, interaction and execution, noting that they are increasingly integrating with cyberspace and the physical world with the advancement of technologies such as large language models.

It outlines key principles for AI agent development, emphasizing safety and controllability,  standardization and order, innovation-driven growth, and application-oriented development.

The guidelines identify four major areas of action. These include strengthening development foundations by improving technological infrastructure and establishing standards and protocols; ensuring safety and security; promoting application-driven development through 19 typical scenarios across scientific research, industrial development, consumption, public services and social governance; and fostering an innovation ecosystem through enhanced industrial collaboration and broader application promotion.