TECH

China Issues Guidelines to Standardize AI Agent Development

Published: May. 12, 2026 6:59 p.m. GMT+8

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Three government agencies laid out rules on security, technical standards and industry adoption as Beijing pushes for widespread AI integration by 2027. Photo: VCG

China’s cyberspace, economic planning and industry regulators have jointly issued guidelines to standardize the development and application of artificial intelligence (AI) agents.

The policy framework marks a critical step toward realizing Beijing’s broader ambition to deeply integrate the technology into key industries and achieve a 70% adoption rate for smart terminals and AI agents by 2027.

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China’s CAC, NDRC, and MIIT issued guidelines defining AI agents as autonomous systems, targeting 70% adoption in smart terminals by 2027.
Four priorities: tech foundations and standards, security safeguards, 19 application scenarios, innovation ecosystem.
Aligns with August 2025 State Council plan; blocked Meta’s acquisition of AI startup Manus.

AI generated, for reference only

Who’s Who

Meta Platforms Inc.: China blocked Meta Platforms Inc.’s acquisition of Singapore-based AI-agent startup Manus after a foreign investment review, ordering the parties to unwind the deal.

Manus: China blocked Meta Platforms Inc.'s acquisition of Singapore-based AI-agent startup Manus late last month, ordering the parties to unwind the deal after a foreign investment review. This aligns with Beijing's heightened focus on AI security.

Shihui Partners: Wang Xinrui, a partner at Shihui Partners, stated that China's new AI agent guidelines provide a policy basis for government, state-owned firms, and tech platforms to conduct pilots and build infrastructure toward 2027 adoption goals. He noted state-led tech foundations reduce redundant development and align developer capabilities via standardized interfaces.

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