Chinese Tech Giants Disable AI During College Entrance Exams

To combat academic dishonesty during pivotal college entrance exams, major Chinese AI companies have temporarily deactivated features on their popular chatbots. This preemptive measure aims to ensure fairness as millions of students undertake the high-stakes ‘gaokao’ examinations, effectively preventing the use of AI tools for cheating.

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AI Chatbot Features Temporarily Disabled

Leading Chinese AI firms have taken decisive action. Popular chatbots such as Alibaba’s Qwen and ByteDance’s Doubao have seen photo recognition features blocked to prevent their use in identifying or answering exam questions, according to Bloomberg. Tencent’s Yuanbao, Moonshot’s Kimi, and DeepSeek, as reported by The Guardian, have reportedly disabled such tools entirely during exam periods. When prompted, these chatbots inform users that the restrictions are to “ensure the fairness of the college entrance examinations” and that exam-related queries are “not in compliance with rules,” Bloomberg noted.

Users React to Unexpected AI Service Limitations

The AI feature shutdown, seemingly unannounced by the companies, caught many users by surprise. News spread largely through student complaints on social media, as highlighted by The Guardian. Frustrations were evident, with one Weibo user reportedly exclaiming, “College entrance exam candidates, you are all shit… I can’t use DeepSeek to upload pictures, I have to download ChatGPT again, I hope you all go to community college,” showcasing the reliance some may have developed on these AI assistants.

The High-Stakes Gaokao: Context for AI Restrictions

The ‘gaokao’ is a critical three-day national college entrance exam in China, with approximately 13.3 million students vying for limited university spots this year. The intense, nine-hour examination (split across days) already bans personal electronics, but these AI restrictions add another layer of preventative measures to uphold academic integrity during this crucial period for Chinese youth.

AI in a Dual Role: Surveillance at Exam Centers

Interestingly, while student AI access is cut, exam administrators are reportedly using AI for invigilation. China Daily reported that AI surveillance systems are active in some test centers, designed to flag “irregular behavior” like whispering or suspicious glances that human proctors might miss, ensuring a tightly controlled testing environment.

The temporary shutdown of AI features during China’s gaokao highlights a determined effort to uphold exam fairness. As students are cut off from potential AI assistance, the simultaneous use of AI for surveillance by administrators points to the evolving and often complex role of artificial intelligence in education and assessment.