Summary of the Core Content
The first mass-produced smartphone with an AI intelligence component is about to be officially launched. The convenient features that everyone was looking forward to—such as AI helping with price comparisons across apps, ticket reservations, and automatically filling out forms to qualify for discounts—seem within reach. However, major internet platforms have quietly erected barriers: they are using technical means to prevent third-party AI tools from operating within their apps.
A legal seminar has been held to address this conflict, focusing on the core issue: “Since users have already given consent for AI to operate their apps, why do the platforms still require additional authorization?” The consensus is that AI intelligent agents are essentially digital assistants for users, not independent entities that require platform approval. Except in high-risk scenarios like large transactions, there is no reason for platforms to block third-party AI. Both U.S. judicial precedents and EU regulatory rules are moving towards allowing AI to serve users without hindering their convenience, with the ultimate goal of making AI technology truly beneficial to ordinary people, rather than becoming another barrier that confines them.
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Detailed Explanation
1. Why Can’t the “AI-Enabled App Functions” Be Used Yet?
The reason is simple: platforms are worried about losing their revenue. Many people have seen demos of AI comparing prices across apps like Taobao, JD.com, and Pinduoduo, automatically skipping ads and going straight to the desired pages. But when it comes time to use these functions, they find they are unavailable due to hidden bans by the platforms. From the platform’s perspective, they earn revenue from ads and user engagement time. With AI, these steps are skipped, reducing their income. Therefore, even though AI smartphones are about to be released, platforms need to set up barriers, claiming concerns about data theft and system disruption.
2. Experts Have Defined AI’s Role: It’s Not a New Entity, but a Digital Assistant
The seminar concluded that AI is not a new, autonomous entity that requires special approval; it’s just a tool like a mouse or a delivery service. Using AI to perform tasks you would do manually is legal. Platforms have no reason to restrict it, unless it involves high-risk activities like large transactions or personal information changes.
3. International Approaches
This issue is not unique to China. Abroad, courts and regulations have already addressed it:
- In the U.S., courts have ruled that AI helping with orders is not illegal, as the user is the one actually making the purchase.
- The EU’s DMA (Digital Markets Act) requires large platforms to provide equal access to all third-party AI tools.
These examples show that platforms cannot use “security” as a pretext to block AI.
4. Three Key Issues in the Debate
The experts discussed three critical balance points:
- Platforms cannot completely block AI without a valid reason, as it would violate anti-monopoly laws.
- Old rules from the web scraping era (e.g., stealing data) do not apply to AI, which only uses user data within the app.
- A tiered approach is needed: low-risk tasks like checking deliveries and comparing prices can be automated, while high-risk tasks require user confirmation.
5. The Benefit for Consumers
The ultimate goal is to liberate users from tedious app tasks. AI will handle these tasks, freeing them to focus on using products and services. Platforms can concentrate on improving their products, and AI developers can focus on creating better tools. This shift aligns with the goal of technology serving users, not becoming another barrier.
In summary, the introduction of AI will make life easier for consumers by automating common tasks, while allowing platforms to innovate without hindering user experience.