As over 13.3 million Chinese students immerse themselves in the intense four-day “gaokao” college entrance exams, which began on June 7, major technology companies have temporarily disabled key features of their AI chatbots to prevent cheating. The gaokao, China’s highly competitive national college entrance examination, determines university placements and shapes the future of millions. To safeguard its integrity, companies like Alibaba, ByteDance, Tencent, and Moonshot AI have suspended services such as photo-recognition and question-answering functions during exam hours, reflecting a concerted effort to maintain fairness in one of the world’s most high-stakes academic tests.
The decision, reported by Bloomberg and The Guardian, affects popular AI platforms like Alibaba’s Qwen, ByteDance’s Doubao, Tencent’s Yuanbao, and Moonshot’s Kimi. These platforms have either blocked image-processing capabilities or restricted responses to exam-related queries. DeepSeek, another widely used AI tool, displays a message stating, “To ensure the fairness of the college entrance examinations, this function cannot be used during the test period,” when users attempt to upload images of test papers. The restrictions, though not officially announced by the companies, have sparked discussions on Weibo, where students expressed frustration. One user humorously remarked, “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.” The lack of public statements suggests a coordinated, discreet effort to align with national priorities during the gaokao period.
The gaokao, often called the toughest academic exam globally, tests students on compulsory subjects like Chinese, Mathematics, and English, with additional subjects varying by province. Its results are pivotal, determining not only university admissions but also career prospects and social mobility, especially for students from smaller cities and lower-income families. The exam’s significance has driven authorities to implement stringent anti-cheating measures, including biometric identification, advanced device screening, and radio signal blockers at testing centers. In provinces like Jiangxi, AI-powered surveillance systems monitor for “abnormal behaviors” such as whispering or suspicious glances, with footage reviewed post-exam to ensure compliance. Violators face severe penalties, including exam disqualification and potential bans from future tests.
The temporary suspension of AI functionalities highlights China’s complex relationship with artificial intelligence in education. While the government promotes AI integration—Beijing mandated AI education for all students starting in 2025—it is equally vigilant about its potential to undermine academic integrity. Recent Ministry of Education guidelines explicitly prohibit AI-generated content in exams, reflecting a broader effort to balance technological advancement with meritocratic principles. The gaokao’s role as a gatekeeper to higher education amplifies these concerns, as even minor advantages gained through AI could disrupt the level playing field that the exam seeks to maintain.
Students and educators have mixed reactions to the AI restrictions. Some praise the measures for ensuring fairness, while others argue that temporary bans highlight the need for more robust, long-term solutions to integrate AI ethically into education. The restrictions are expected to lift after the gaokao concludes on June 10, restoring full functionality to these platforms. However, the episode underscores the challenges of managing AI’s rapid growth in a country where education is both a cultural cornerstone and a fiercely competitive arena.
This year’s gaokao, with its record-breaking participation, reinforces its status as a defining moment for China’s youth. As technology companies and authorities collaborate to protect the exam’s integrity, the temporary AI shutdown serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between innovation and fairness. For now, China’s message is clear: when it comes to the gaokao, preserving meritocracy trumps technological convenience.
