AI | Mainland China guides e-commerce companies to strengthen R&D and application of AI large models and other technologies

The Ministry of Commerce and five other departments issued the “Guiding Opinions on Better Serving the Real Economy by Promoting the High-Quality Development of E-Commerce.” Among other things, it states that support should be provided to leading e-commerce companies to increase R&D investment, strengthen efforts to tackle core technologies in key areas, and build an innovative ecosystem of “industry-research collaboration and learning-to-application transformation.”

The “Opinions” call for developing “artificial intelligence + e-commerce,” guiding e-commerce companies to strengthen the R&D and application of technologies such as AI large models, optimize the consumer experience, reduce operating costs, and improve circulation efficiency. Encourage e-commerce companies to apply technology for good, and coordinate the optimization of algorithm rules to balance the interests of all parties. Strengthen judicial protection for technological achievements in the e-commerce field, explore the establishment of rules such as disclosure of evidence and exclusion of evidence that interferes with it, and appropriately reduce the burden of proof on rights holders.

The “Opinions” also mention strengthening supervision, law enforcement, and operator concentration reviews of conduct related to monopoly agreements and the abuse of a dominant market position in the e-commerce sector. In accordance with law, investigate, address, and regulate typical issues, rectify “involute-type” competition, and safeguard a fair and orderly market competition environment.

The “Opinions” state that efforts should be made to promote the formation of nationwide e-commerce industry organizations to advance industry self-discipline. Strengthen Party building in the live-streaming e-commerce sector, and promote full coverage of Party organizations for national e-commerce demonstration bases and live-streaming e-commerce enterprises. Give full play to the exemplary and leading role of Party members and the role of grassroots Party organizations as battle strongholds, to promote integrity-based business operations by e-commerce enterprises and foster standardized development.