China Encyclopedia Enters AI Era, Reliable Knowledge Is the Stake

JAKARTA - China Encyclopedia is going deeper into the era of artificial intelligence or AI. Citing a report by China Daily, Friday, May 15, academics, publishers, and technology experts gathered in Beijing to discuss how to make reliable knowledge more easily accessible to the public.

The first China Encyclopedia Conference was held on April 23-24. The event was part of China's first National Reading Week, after the State Council's rules to promote a reading culture came into force on February 1.

Encyclopedia of China is the first and most authoritative comprehensive modern encyclopedia in China. This work was launched in 1978 and became one of the important national cultural projects.

The third edition uses a new approach. The online version is prioritized, while the printed version is still published in a more concise form.

By the end of 2025, the online version has 519,000 entries. The printed version is published in 43 volumes. The compilation involves more than 60,000 experts and academics.

Mao Yuansheng of China Publishing Group said the encyclopedia was an important platform to showcase China's culture and confidence.

The conference with the theme "Empowering Thousands of Industries, Reaching Thousands of Households" was attended by more than 600 guests from various sectors.

The main issue is that AI and big data are changing the way knowledge is created, examined, and disseminated.

Bai Chunli, deputy chairman of the editorial board of the third edition of the Encyclopedia of China, said the encyclopedia needs to use a "human-machine collaboration" model. That is, experts, AI, and digital platforms work together.

However, he emphasized that technology must still maintain the spirit of science and human values.

Li Yang, member of the editorial board for economics, said encyclopedias have an important task of providing accurate, systematic, and authoritative knowledge.

"The encyclopedia must carry out the important task of 'clarifying the source'," Li said, as quoted by China Daily.

On the other hand, AI also brings new problems, namely copyright. Zhou Huilin, President of the China Copyright Association, said that copyright protection is important because encyclopedias are a source of authoritative knowledge.

He encouraged the protection of the source of knowledge, strengthening of rules, and cross-sectoral cooperation.

Gao Shiyi, President of the Encyclopedia of China Publishing House, said the development of the encyclopedia will focus on digitization, platforms, intelligence, brands, and a more streamlined system.

A number of products were also introduced, including China Encyclopedia Online, a network of basic education encyclopedias, digital exhibitions, VR classes for teenagers, and XR-based science films. XR is a wide-area reality technology that combines virtual and real experiences.

China also launched the Encyclopedia of Chinese and Italian Culture: Art, a joint work with the Treccani Institute of Italy.

Encyclopedias are no longer only in print volumes, but also enter digital platforms, virtual classrooms, and interactive media. In the era of AI, the hardest work remains the same, namely to keep knowledge accurate, reliable, and accountable.