Agile Governance: Tsinghua's Xue Lan on How China Regulates What It Can't Fully Predict

Agile governance offers a framework for managing rapidly evolving technologies like artificial intelligence by prioritizing iterative, adaptive regulation over rigid, comprehensive legal structures. This model, central to China’s policy approach, relies on three core pillars: a flexible mindset, collaborative partnerships between regulators and industry, and the use of targeted, non-punitive tools. By treating regulation as a "learning by doing" process, policymakers can address emerging risks—such as those associated with generative AI—without stifling innovation. While critics often view Chinese regulatory interventions as top-down, the system frequently incorporates public feedback and provisional measures to refine rules over time. Ultimately, managing AI risks represents a global public good, necessitating international cooperation to prevent existential threats and ensure that the benefits of frontier models extend beyond a few dominant nations to the broader global community.