Interpreting the Guidelines for Standardization of Intelligent Society Development and Governance (2

As artificial intelligence technologies become widely applied, human society is entering a new phase marked by deep integration of intelligence, data, and platforms. To systematically regulate the application of intelligent technologies in social governance and promote a positive interaction between public governance systems and technological innovation, on June 11, 2025, the Cyberspace Administration of China and the State Administration for Market Regulation jointly issued the Guidelines for Standardization of Intelligent Society Development and Governance (2025 Edition) (hereinafter referred to as the “Guidelines”). 

These Guidelines aim to provide unified technical norms and governance frameworks for governments at all levels, research institutions, enterprises, and other stakeholders, thereby enhancing the scientific, systematic, and forward-looking nature of social governance.

This article provides an analysis of the key contents of the Guidelines.

I. Content Overview and Scope of Application

The Guidelines encompass five core content modules:

1.	Principles for Intelligent Society Development and Governance2.	Social Application Scenarios and Impact Assessment of Intelligent Technologies3.	Procedures for Social Experiments Involving Artificial Intelligence4.	Framework of the Standardization System for Intelligent Society Development and Governance5.	Standards for Effectiveness Evaluation

These modules not only expound the essence of the intelligent society from a conceptual level but also offer actionable pathways from a practical perspective.

In terms of application scope, the Guidelines are applicable to the exploratory practices of all levels of government, research institutes, and public and private entities in intelligent society governance. They also provide technical and normative support for specialized initiatives such as national intelligent society governance experimental zones.

II. Social Application Scenarios and Impact Assessment of Intelligent Technologies

At the practical level, the primary task in advancing the construction of an intelligent society is to clarify the application scenarios of intelligent technologies and scientifically assess their impacts across various dimensions of societal operations. The Guidelines classify the scope of technological impact into three levels—micro (individual), meso (organization), and macro (society)—and comprehensively identify the roles, impacts, and potential risks of intelligent technologies in real-world social scenarios.

1. Micro Level

The micro level focuses on individuals. The Guidelines state that at this level, intelligent technologies are deeply embedded in daily life—for example, autonomous driving, smart homes, biometric systems, and recommendation algorithms. While these technologies enhance convenience, they may also affect individuals’ psychological states, behavioral patterns, and even value systems. For instance, recommendation algorithms may intensify information cocoons, and online games may lead to addiction.The Guidelines indicate that micro-level assessments include metrics such as behavioral data collection (e.g., usage frequency, click preferences) and subjective perception surveys (e.g., sense of security, happiness), to support the formulation of more human-centered and inclusive application standards.

2. Meso Level

The meso level centers on organizations and industries. At this level, in scenarios such as smart education, smart healthcare, and intelligent finance, intelligent technologies are reshaping business processes, management structures, and industry collaboration mechanisms. For example, hospitals use AI-assisted diagnostic systems to enhance efficiency, and educational platforms utilize data profiling to optimize instructional delivery.

The Guidelines note that evaluation methods at this level focus on measuring economic benefits (e.g., productivity, customer conversion rates) and governance capacity (e.g., responsiveness, coordination), ensuring that the dividends of technology reach every facet of organizational governance.

3. Macro Level

The macro level addresses society as a whole. At this level, intelligent technologies are profoundly influencing public services, government governance, and the restructuring of social systems. The development of digital government, smart cities, and emergency management platforms has made governance more intelligent and efficient, but it also raises higher requirements for public data governance, transparency, and equity.

According to the Guidelines, macro-level evaluation dimensions include government decision-making efficiency, public service satisfaction, and precision of resource allocation. The emphasis is that technologies should be oriented toward the well-being of the people and should enhance the overall governance capacity of society.

III. Framework for the Standardization System of Intelligent Society Development and Governance

Based on scientific assessments, the Guidelines further propose the construction of a “Standardization System Framework for Intelligent Society Development and Governance” as a core vehicle for institutionalizing, standardizing, and normalizing various practical experiences. The Guidelines outline five categories of standards aimed at systematically addressing the common challenges encountered in the social application of intelligent technologies:

1. Basic and General Standards: Unifying Language and Rules

This category aims to resolve issues of ambiguity and inconsistency in intelligent governance. By standardizing terminology, classifications, and coding systems, basic and general standards lay a solid foundation for cross-sectoral and cross-departmental coordination, eliminating barriers in understanding and communication.

For example, precisely defining terms like “intelligent community,” “algorithmic risk,” and “social experiment” helps different stakeholders build consensus and foster synergy.

2. Standards for Development and Governance Principles: Establishing Value Baselines for Technological Progress

These standards reflect the ethical guidance function in technological governance and stipulate that technological development must adhere to a people-centered, ethically sound approach. They cover areas such as technology ethics, social well-being, and security governance, aiming to prevent problems like algorithmic discrimination, data misuse, and technological silos.For instance, intelligent technologies must be deployed based on principles of informed consent and fairness, with mechanisms for accountability and traceability to ensure that public interest takes precedence over commercial incentives.

3. Standards for Scenario-Based Applications: Refining Governance Pathways Across Nine Key Fields

This category is most grounded in social reality and covers nine key application scenarios—from grassroots governance and healthcare to education, elderly care, and law enforcement. By systematically regulating the application models, risk points, and assessment methods of intelligent technologies in each field, these standards make governance more pragmatic and relevant.For example, in education, standards guide the use of AI for personalized learning while preventing addiction among adolescents. In elderly care, they define how to safeguard personal data and improve service adaptability. These standards ensure that technology addresses social problems instead of creating new inequalities or risks.

4. Standards for Technologies and Methods: Bridging the Gap Between Experimentation and Implementation

These standards primarily cover AI social experimentation methods, simulation and evolution technologies, data management, and ethical review. They form the technical support layer of the entire standards system.

For instance, when conducting social experiments, scientific sampling, rational grouping, and multi-dimensional data collection can yield representative empirical data for policy-making. Ethical review mechanisms and risk control standards ensure that technological deployment is legally compliant and socially acceptable.

5. Standards for Effectiveness Evaluation: Driving Dynamic Evolution of Standards and Governance Optimization

This final category seeks to establish an evaluation system covering governance performance, overall impact, and risk tracking. Its goal is to ensure that standards are not merely theoretical documents but living systems subject to dynamic monitoring, feedback, and improvement.

For example, by setting governance performance metrics and risk warning mechanisms, failures or malfunctions in technology application can be promptly identified and addressed, preventing systemic issues.

Conclusion
The release of the Guidelines for Standardization of Intelligent Society Development and Governance (2025 Edition) marks a significant step in China’s move toward standard-led development and system-building in the field of intelligent society governance. It not only provides institutional safeguards and technical norms for applying intelligent technologies across various social scenarios but also clarifies the action directions and cooperation pathways for governments, enterprises, and research institutions.
Furthermore, the Guidelines offer a systematic response to real-world challenges and cutting-edge practices, making them highly operable and widely applicable. As the various standards are progressively implemented and application scenarios continue to expand, the Guidelines will become a critical tool for building an intelligent society and helping China steadily advance in the global landscape of intelligent governance.
Interpreting the Guidelines for Standardization of Intelligent Society Development and Governance (2025 Edition)
