AI and so many other pointless online discourse^TM that can summarized as “does X suck/should X be abolished/will X exist under socialism” follow two basic sides of an argument:

1. X only sucks because of capitalism and under socialism, X will actually be good for society.

2. X will undergo such qualitative change under socialism that it is no longer X but Y.

All AI discourse^TM follow this basic pattern. On one side, you have people like bidetmarxman who argue that AI only sucks because capitalism sucks and on the other side, you have people say that AI sucks while also saying that the various algorithms and technologies that are present in useful automation doesn’t count as AI but is something different.

The way to not fall into the trap is to ask these simple questions:

1. Does X exists in AES?

2. What is AES’s relationship with X?

If we try to apply this to AI in general, the answers are very simple. AI is not only pushed by the Chinese state, but it’s already very much part of Chinese society where even average people benefit from things like self-driving buses. China is even incorporating AI within its educational curriculum. This makes sense since people are going to use it anyways, so might as well educate them on proper use and the pitfalls of misuse.

The question of AI art within China is far murkier. There seems to be some hesitation. For example, there was a recent law passed that stated AI art must be labeled as such. I don’t think they would make an effort to enforce disclosure of AI art being AI art if it were so innocent.