As artificial intelligence (AI) technology advances, tech giants in China, such as Baidu and Alibaba, have been launching their own ChatGPT-like chatbots to compete in the emerging global AI arms race. Baidu recently released Ernie Bot, and Alibaba is soon to roll out Tongyi Qianwen. However, these chatbots, created for China, must adhere to the country’s strict censorship regime and other regulations governing AI development. How will they fare?
The U.S.-based company OpenAI first released the ChatGPT chatbot, which generated a lot of global excitement from tech enthusiasts. Its AI-powered technology revolutionized how people communicate with computers and allowed for natural language processing. Following its success, Chinese tech giants have begun rolling out their own ChatGPT-like products for the domestic market. Baidu is testing Ernie Bot, while Alibaba has reportedly started development on Tongyi Qianwen.
These Chinese chatbots are expected to be significantly different from their Western counterparts due to the country’s tight regulations. For example, OpenAI’s platform can answer questions on sensitive topics, while Chinese chatbots may shut these queries down. In recent months, Beijing has implemented a range of AI-focused regulations, some explicitly targeting applications like chatbots.
Baidu is a Chinese tech behemoth with a 24-year history. Founded in Beijing, the company is a leader in the Internet, AI and deep learning space. Baidu is China’s largest search engine, equaling Google in both popularity and market size. The company has been instrumental in the development of AI technologies, releasing the Ernie Bot chatbot and other groundbreaking products.
Alibaba is yet another Chinese tech giant at the epicenter of the country’s AI revolution. Founded in 1999, Alibaba is a global commerce and technology leader, with more than 700 million customers around the world and arms in a variety of industries. Among its various attributions and achievements, the company is credited for its work in cloud computing, AI and e-commerce. Most recently, it has launched the Tongyi Qianwen chatbot, designed to rival OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
China’s latest foray into AI-powered chatbots may soon give it the technological edge over the U.S. in an AI arms race. While these artificial intelligences have to contend with the Chinese government’s tight control and censorship, Chinese tech giants have the potential to cutting-edge products that could transform the industry. How they fare in the long run, however, remains to be seen.
