Chinese AI tools disable photo‑Q&A during gaokao to curb cheating, firms say

What happened

It has been reported that several Chinese AI services will disable image‑based question‑answering features during the national college entrance exam, the gaokao. According to Red Star News and IT Home, ByteDance’s (字节跳动) Doubao (豆包) told users its core app will remain accessible during the exam window but “photo question” and live answer features will be turned off. Tencent (腾讯)’s Yuanbao (元宝) reportedly said it paused services targeting gaokao last year, and IT Home noted that during the 2025 exam period Alibaba (阿里巴巴)’s Tongyi Qianwen (通义千问), ByteDance’s Doubao, Kimi and Tencent’s Yuanbao all suspended image‑recognition responses to exam content.

Why it matters

The gaokao is a high‑stakes, tightly supervised national exam that effectively determines university admission for millions of Chinese students. Who could blame platforms for acting preemptively? Tech firms say the temporary restrictions aim to protect exam fairness and prevent misuse of powerful visual‑Q&A tools that can parse photos of test questions and deliver answers. It has been reported that these suspensions are routine; some companies say they disable specific features every year during the exam window.

Background and context

Chinese internet platforms operate under strict domestic rules and heightened public scrutiny, especially after a wave of tech regulation since 2020. The move also echoes a broader global debate over how to govern AI so it does not facilitate cheating, disinformation or other misuse. For Western readers: this is not a spat with U.S. sanctions or trade policy — it is a domestic compliance and reputational safeguard within China’s tightly governed tech ecosystem. It has been reported that platforms publish notices during exam periods stating the relevant functions are unavailable “to ensure fairness.”