Microsoft President Brad Smith believes that China is set to become a major player in Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology and could eventually become a close rival of the popular ChatGPT. He recently said so in an interview with Nikkei Asia, calling the competitive nature of the race to innovate in AI “enormously competitive.”
At the moment, the three leading innovators in the field are OpenAI with Microsoft, Google, and the Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence. Smith believes that the gap between them could vary from one time to another, but it will always be measured in months, not years.
ChatGPT is a form of Generative AI which boasts of being able to create text and images that are nearly on par with humans. Despite this, fears have been raised that the technology could create job displacement with automation or even spread misinformation. For this reason, there is a need to use and build on existing products when it comes to AI technology. This can be used as both a tool and a weapon, which is where cyber attacks come in.
Additionally, Smith believes that AI can be used to solve labour shortages, which is a major issue in the Asian continent. To this end, he argues that AI can be used to detect international cyber attacks or influence operations in real-time and is a prime example of using technology for strong defense instead of offense.
The company mentioned in the article is Microsoft, an American multinational technology giant. Founded in 1975, it has become one of the world’s most recognized brands and one of the most valuable companies in the world. They develop and market consumer electronics, personal computers, computer software and services, and are best known for its Windows operating system and Office suite.
The person mentioned in the article is Brad Smith, the President of Microsoft. A lawyer by training, Smith served as Microsoft’s Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer from 2009 to 2018, when he was promoted to President. In his role, he has overseen the company’s legal and business affairs, its work with governments, and its efforts to act as a responsible corporate citizen. He has also been instrumental in the growth of artificial intelligence, as well as the push towards cloud computing.
