In many Chinese university campuses, the use of artificial intelligence is no longer discussed: it is used. According to a survey of the Mycos Institute, only 1 % of teachers and students claimed not to use generative tools. The remaining 99 % do and almost 60 % declare to use them frequently. It is a notable turn compared to two years ago, when accessing Chatgpt meant resorting to mirrors and VPN. Today the movement is the opposite: the centers drive their use.
As Mit Technology Review points out, the transition has been fast, but planned. At the University of Zhejiang, an introductory subject of AI is mandatory for all students since 2024. Others such as Fudan, Renmin or Nanjing have opened transverse courses to any discipline, beyond computer science or engineering.
Beijing marks the passage for AI
The focus is in the use with criteria: internal guides, concrete examples, recommendations on what tasks can rely on generative models and which human judgment should prevail. Interaction with the machine is treated as one more skillcomparable to other technical literacy. McKinsey estimates that China will need 6 million professionals with AI domain for 2030
Several universities are developing their own courses focused on local alternatives to Chatgpt. Centers such as Shenzhen and Zhejiang have launched teaching programs on Depseek, a model that seeks to position themselves as a national reference in generative. Others are already forming their students in the use of Doubao, the chatbot developed by Baidu and one of the most widespread in academic environments.
In April 2025, the Chinese Ministry of Education issued national guides for Primary and Secondary, aimed at promoting critical thinkingdigital fluidity and practical application in these academic stages.
For its part, Beijing has already mandatory the teaching of AI in all centers of the city, from primary to high school. For the University, these general recommendations have resulted in plans of each institution and the creation of internal courses and regulations.
Spain is already moving
In Spain there are universities that have gone from the debate to action: new degrees focused on AI and tutors based on AI that accompany the study Without giving the answer made. All with an objective: to train professionals who work with ia without losing critical thinking.
If we focus on the rest of the West, the use is massive, but the rules not so much.
Let’s deepen a little.
- USA: Ohio University has made the training in AI mandatory for all its first year students. In California, programs such as Chatgpt Edu are arriving at public universities to offer free access to generative models.
- Europe: The European Commission promotes the Digital Education Action Plan 2021–2027, with ethical guides and teacher training. Universities such as Maastricht, Gothenburg or Edinburgh have approved their own frames. Networks like Yerun or the US work to harmonize criteria and share good practices.
Decisions, for now, remain mostly decentralized: They depend on each institutionof each faculty … and, in many cases, even of each teacher. It is a flexible model, with advantages and disadvantages, compared to the most structured approach that China has adopted.
Two different paths to address the same reality: AI has come to stay, and mastering these tools will be key. What is still being defined is how to teach them, when and under what criteria.
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