Chinese tech firms have temporarily disabled certain AI features to prevent cheating during the gaokao exams, a crucial university entrance test taken by over 13 million students nationwide.
Gaokao Exams and AI Suspension
The gaokao exams, which began on Saturday, determine university placements for students, making it a highly competitive and stressful period.
Several prominent AI tools, including Doubao by ByteDance (TikTok’s parent company), DeepSeek, Yuanbao by Tencent, Alibaba’s Qwen, and Moonshot’s Kimi, have restricted their services during exam hours.
Screenshots shared online showed these AI tools responding to queries about their availability during the exam period. For instance, when a user asked Doubao about an exam question, it replied that its question-answering service was suspended during the college entrance examination.
Measures to Prevent Cheating
The AI suspension is part of broader efforts to prevent cheating during the gaokao exams. Authorities have implemented various measures, including stricter entry checks, biometric identification, enhanced screening for digital devices, and radio signal blockers.
Some regions are using AI monitoring tools to detect “abnormal behaviors” such as whispering or repeated glances between students during exams. In Jiangxi province, footage will be reviewed after the exam to identify any violations or misconduct.
Societal Significance of Gaokao Exams
The gaokao exams are crucial in Chinese society, often determining a student’s future educational and career prospects. As a result, various measures are taken to ensure the exams are conducted fairly and smoothly.
Some cities have postponed public performances, delayed office start times, and created priority traffic lanes to help students arrive at the exam venues on time.
The suspension of AI tools and other anti-cheating measures highlight the intense competition and high stakes associated with the gaokao exams in China.
