A Chinese state media company plans to spend more than $162 million developing an artificial intelligence system designed to promote President Xi Jinping’s political ideology, according to stock exchange documents filed this week.
Xinhuanet, which operates under China’s official Xinhua news agency, described the initiative as an ‘authoritative’ AI platform called ‘Xinhua Yudian,’ or Xinhua lexicon. The system will function as ‘an intelligent agent for learning, researching, and disseminating Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era,’ company officials stated.
The AI platform will be guided by mainstream values and focused on ‘spreading the positive voice,’ while delivering current events and political news to users struggling with information overload and ‘a dilemma of trust in distinguishing truth from falsehood,’ according to the filing.
This technology initiative aligns with China’s comprehensive ‘AI+’ strategy introduced in March, which aims to integrate artificial intelligence throughout the nation’s economy. The project also builds on earlier digital campaigns to expand official state ideology’s influence among tech-savvy young people.
Chinese authorities previously launched a successful propaganda application called ‘Xuexi Qiangguo’ in 2019, which translates to ‘Study to make China strong.’ The app became so popular after its debut that it temporarily surpassed WeChat and the Chinese version of TikTok as the top download on Apple’s China app store.
The planned AI system will present key elements of Xi’s speeches to users, functioning as a politically sensitive reference tool to ensure that citations of Xi’s statements ‘in official document writing and policy interpretation are accurate and error-free.’
Built using the state news agency’s ‘pure and clean’ information database, the artificial intelligence platform will help broadcast the party’s message across all areas of Chinese society, providing additional support for ‘consolidating the ideological and public opinion foundation,’ company representatives explained.
