Teachers are seen behind a laptop during a workshop on the ChatGPT bot organized by a media service school in Geneva, Switzerland, on Feb 1. [PHOTO/AFP]

Wang Zhigang, the minister of science and technology, has called for Chinese scientists and companies to facilitate the development and ethical use of artificial intelligence.

The AI chatbot ChatGPT has become a global sensation due to its ability to churn out coherent and detailed answers to inquiries ranging from essay prompts to computer codes.

China has also conducted years of research in natural language processing and understanding, the technology that made ChatGPT possible, Wang said on the sidelines of the first plenary meeting of the 14th National People's Congress in Beijing on Sunday.

"Whether it is Chinese or foreign companies, we hope more people can create better products in the field of artificial intelligence," he said. "But at the same time, we have to pay attention to scientific and technological ethics and try to take advantage of the technology while avoiding its downsides."

Wang said China is the first country to propose an eight-item principle on AI governance. The principle was issued in 2019 and encourages the safe, fair and responsible use of AI.

In addition, China has developed several application scenarios for AI, such as smart ports, to facilitate the commercialization of AI technologies, he said.

Wang added he hopes AI can contribute to China's socioeconomic growth, but also for Chinese researchers and companies to contribute to the global development of AI.