- Chinese tech companies blocked key AI features in their chatbots during the Gaokao to prevent students from cheating.
- Image recognition and text generation were disabled on apps like Qwen, Doubao, Kimi, and Yuanbao for the duration of the exams.
- More than 13 million young people competed under strict technological and surveillance measures, including AI to monitor suspicious behavior.
- The debate over the role of AI in education continues, as both oversight and demands for academic equity and ethics grow.
The advancement of artificial intelligence has meant a New challenge for school exams in China, especially in the Gaokao, the well-known university entrance examIn recent years, students have increasingly turned to technology platforms to seek help with questions, leading authorities and large companies to rethinking the conditions under which these selection processes are carried out to avoid academic fraud.
China's major tech companies decided to take action during Gaokao 2025. During exam days, key functions of AI chatbots were blocked, such as image recognition and automatic text generation. The goal: to prevent students from using these systems to answer questions using exam photos or written queries, a practice that is becoming increasingly common in schools across the country.
Temporary restriction on chatbots and AI applications
Between June 7 and 10, more than 13 million students competed for a university place. in one of the most demanding exams on the planet. To ensure fairness and protect the integrity of the process, the country's most popular apps, such as Qwen (Alibaba), Doubao (ByteDance), yuanbao (Tencent) and Kimi (Moonshot), They disabled image analysis and automatic response generation servicesEven DeepSeek, another viral AI platform, restricted its access during specific time slots.
The decision was not officially announced and surprised students and users.Many discovered the blockage when trying to use the apps during the exam period, sharing screenshots and explanatory messages on social media like Weibo. Some chatbots explicitly responded that their services were suspended "to ensure fairness" during the tests, according to reports reported by international media and users on Chinese social networks.
The government also strengthened surveillance at testing centers. In addition to the ban on cell phones and electronic devices in classrooms, were introduced monitoring systems based on artificial intelligenceThese technologies allow us to identify behaviors considered suspicious, such as head movements or handling of foreign objects, and were implemented with special emphasis in provinces such as Jiangxi, Guangdong and Hubei.
Exceptional measures and unprecedented academic pressure
The pressure on students is maximum, since The result of the Gaokao can decide the academic and professional future of millions of young people.In this context, the Chinese authorities have not only resorted to technological blockades, but have also multiplied access controls: facial recognition systems, device scanners, and electronic signal jammers were used to prevent the clandestine use of mobile phones. In addition, office hours were adjusted. Social events were postponed and even exclusive lanes were created to facilitate the arrival of applicants. to the examination centers.
The restrictions have opened a nationwide debate on the role of artificial intelligence in educationWhile some believe these tools can be legitimate aids during preparation, education authorities insist that AI-generated content should not be used in exams or homework. The Ministry of Education, in fact, has emphasized the importance of training students in new technologies, but warns that access during the Gaokao should be impossible.
Between innovation and equity, China's AI strategy seems to be setting a trend in other countries. In places like the United States, Some universities have returned to paper-based exams to avoid the use of artificial intelligence., reintroducing traditional notebooks and banning electronic devices from classrooms. The dilemma between leveraging digital advances and protecting academic integrity is becoming increasingly visible globally.
This coordinated blockade during the Gaokao reflects a strong response to the risks of technological cheating. Despite the controversy and discomfort of the students themselves, the authorities have made it clear that the priority is to maintain a level playing fieldThis model of surveillance and restriction could set a trend in other educational systems where AI continues to expand rapidly.
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