China’s Education Ministry has recently implemented new policies for the year that place restrictions on the use of generative artificial intelligence in classrooms. The guidelines outlined in a local government report highlight the regulations surrounding AI education and the use of generative AI in primary and secondary schools in 2025.
According to the report, primary school students are not allowed to use unrestricted generative AI tools on their own. However, instructors are permitted to utilize the technology to assist with teaching. Middle school students are encouraged to explore how generative AI reasons and analyzes information, while high school students have more freedom to use the technology in various ways.
One key point of the policies is the prohibition of students directly copying AI-generated content into their homework. Schools are also required to establish a list of approved generative AI tools that can be used on school premises.
The People’s Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, mentioned the new guidelines in its Thursday edition. While the report did not delve into specific limitations on AI use, it emphasized the promotion of “scientific” and “standardized” AI education tailored to different educational levels.
The use of generative AI in China has seen a significant uptick following the release of DeepSeek, a domestic competitor to OpenAI, which launched a chatbot app in late January. Companies like Tencent and ByteDance have also introduced similar chatbots that have gained popularity across China.
Overall, the new education policies aim to strike a balance between leveraging the benefits of AI technology in the classroom while ensuring that students are not overly reliant on AI-generated content. By setting clear guidelines and promoting responsible AI use, China continues to navigate the evolving landscape of AI integration in education.
