China’s annual college entrance exam, known as the Gaokao, draws intense national attention—and for good reason. With over 13 million students competing for limited spots at top universities, the pressure to perform is enormous. To protect the integrity of the 2024 Gaokao, Chinese authorities have temporarily disabled several popular AI features on major platforms such as Alibaba’s Qwen, Tencent’s Yuanbao, ByteDance’s Doubao, and Moonshot’s Kimi.
This strategic move is aimed at curbing the risk of cheating during what is perhaps the most consequential exam in a Chinese student’s life. Let’s explore the decision, how it was implemented, the reactions from students and experts alike, and what this means for the future of AI in education.
What Is Gaokao and Why It Matters
If you’ve never heard of the Gaokao, think of it as the Super Bowl, New Year’s Eve, and graduation day rolled into one—but with far more pressure. Held every June, the Gaokao (short for “National Higher Education Entrance Examination”) is a two- to four-day examination that determines whether and where more than 13 million students can attend university.
Succeeding in the Gaokao can unlock doors to elite institutions like Tsinghua University or Peking University—and, by extension, a brighter economic future. Failing it, on the other hand, often means missing out on coveted opportunities.
So it’s no surprise that students and parents invest significant time and resources into test preparation. In recent years, artificial intelligence has become the secret weapon of many ambitious learners—until now.
Why AI Tools Are Being Restricted
AI has been gradually embedding itself into everyday academic workflows. From test prep chatbots to camera-based math solvers, China’s top tech companies have developed AI tools that help students study more efficiently.
These tools offer features such as:
- Automatic problem-solving from uploaded images
- Step-by-step explanations in real time
- Camera input–based search
- Smart-text recognition for science diagrams and math expressions
But during a critical exam like the Gaokao, these benefits can quickly turn into loopholes for dishonest practices.
To prevent this, China’s Ministry of Education and its national tech regulators have directed companies like Alibaba, Tencent, ByteDance, and Moonshot to temporarily disable:
- Photo- or image-based AI question answering
- In-camera translations or OCR (optical character recognition)
- Real-time Q&A through AI chatbots based on visual prompts
The suspension spans the duration of the Gaokao—typically from June 7 to June 10.
Expected or not, it’s a watershed moment in regulating AI in high-stakes academic environments.
Which AI Features Are Disabled?
Here’s a quick snapshot of the functions taken offline during the 2024 Gaokao:
| AI Feature | Status During Gaokao | Impact
|
| Image-based Q&A | Disabled | Students can’t upload photos of questions to get answers |
| Camera-Based Problem Solving | Suspended | AI tools won’t process photos to auto-solve |
| OCR/Translation | Turned off | No real-time language help for exam items |
| Math Recognizers | Deoptimised | Specific solvers for equations paused |
Several platforms posted short notices or automated alerts when users tried to upload photos or use math tools during this period. Example: “Image-based search is unavailable due to system upgrades” — a message reported widely on Chinese social media.
The “upgrade” is really code for “policy compliance.”
Companies haven’t officially commented much, but their swift compliance shows just how seriously China treats exam integrity.
How Students and Teachers Reacted
🧑🏻🎓 Student Response
Predictably, social media platforms like Weibo, Xiaohongshu (REDD), and even group chats on QQ and WeChat buzzed with chatter about the sudden blackout.
Here’s what a few students had to say:
- “I thought it was a bug at first.”
- “Seriously? I was just using it for revision, not cheating.”
- “Makes sense though—the stakes are just too high.”
While minor frustration lingers, most acknowledge the importance of a level playing field. Some even joked that they finally had a reason to crack open their dusty textbooks!
👩🏻🏫 Educators’ Take
Teachers and exam proctors offered a resounding “Yes!” to the new restrictions.
“AI tools can easily be misused, especially by clever students who know how to game the system,” said Ms. Liu, a high school chemistry teacher in Beijing. “This keeps things fair.”
According to a March 2024 survey from Tsinghua University’s School of Education, 68% of Chinese teachers expressed “strong concerns” that AI could undermine test integrity. The top three worries included:
- Students using AI to circumvent knowledge
- Inability to verify originality of written answers
- Over-reliance on tech decreasing critical thinking
So while students grumble, teachers breathe a bit easier.
The Role of EdTech in Modern China
China’s education sector has grown into one of the most heavily digitized in the world. The rise of edtech was accelerated by:
- Remote learning during COVID-19
- Massive government-backed AI initiatives like the “New Infrastructure” plan
- Private investments from Tencent, Alibaba, and ByteDance
But that explosive growth brought unintended consequences.
In 2021, Beijing cracked down on for-profit tutoring, shaking the edtech world. Now in 2024, the focus shifts toward AI governance in education.
🧠 Fast Fact:
According to data from iiMedia Research, over 72% of Chinese middle and high school students have interacted with AI study tools in the past 12 months.
As the tools get smarter, so must the rules.
Suggested Reading: How AI Is Shaping the Future of Education
Global Implications for AI and Education
China isn’t alone in grappling with AI’s role in education. Around the world, educators are asking:
- Should AI be treated like a calculator or a crutch?
- Where do we draw the line between “assisted learning” and “unfair advantage”?
- How do we keep assessment honest in an AI-assisted future?
Countries like South Korea and Singapore have implemented strict protocols for online exams. Even U.S. universities have started monitoring AI usage in coursework, with new rules proposed by academic bodies like the MLA and IEEE.
What makes China unique is the scale and centralized enforcement. When 13 million students take the same exam, there’s little room for experimentation.
🌐 Suggested Reading: Tech Giants Tighten AI Regulations in Asia
Can AI Coexist with Academic Integrity?
Absolutely—but it will require new boundaries.
Here’s how schools and policy makers can strike a balance:
🛠 Tools with Limits:
- Develop AI that supports conceptual understanding—not just answers.
- Limit real-time features during assessments.
📃 Transparent Policies:
- Publish guidelines around what constitutes appropriate AI use.
- Educate students early about academic ethics in the AI era.
🧑🏫 Human Oversight:
- Embed AI literacy into the curriculum.
- Encourage teacher-student collaboration in using AI tools responsibly.
AI is here to stay. But as students start using these tools daily, teaching “how to learn” will matter more than “what you know.”
Final Thoughts and What’s Next
China’s decision to disable AI features during the 2024 Gaokao signals a pivotal moment in the relationship between education and emerging technology.
While some may view it as a setback, it’s more of a necessary recalibration—one aimed at fairness, equality, and preserving the value of hard work. As AI continues to reshape the academic world, ensuring equitable access and ethical use will be the real test.
💡 What You Can Do Next:
- If you’re a student: Practice with AI tools before exam season, but prioritize understanding.
- If you’re an educator: Craft clear AI usage policies and educate your class proactively.
- If you’re a tech creator: Focus on building AI that empowers rather than replaces human learning.
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🖊️ About the Author:
Jake Wells is a senior tech journalist specializing in artificial intelligence and education policy. He has covered Asia-Pacific tech for over a decade and appears regularly in cross-border tech panels and academic tech conclaves.
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What do you think—should AI be banned in exams, or better integrated? Share your thoughts in the comments!