The global community is growing increasingly concerned about China’s focus on large language models (LLMs) in generative AI. More than 30 Chinese tech giants, including Alibaba, Tencent, Baidu, and Huawei, have announced their own large language model projects. With the entry of Tiktok owner Bytedance, the competition has intensified.
Bytedance Ltd. is currently testing an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot among employees to create a local version of ChatGPT. This came just a week after Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. Rolled out its ChatGPT-style technology. Alibaba aims to take the lead in China’s artificial intelligence race.
China has been actively investing in AI research and development and has made significant advancements in various areas, including natural language processing and machine learning. It is not uncommon for countries to pursue their own AI initiatives to reduce dependency on foreign technology and gain a competitive edge.
However, experts on AI in the US and Western countries are worried about China’s focus on LLM in generative AI due to concerns such as national security, economic interests, and technological competition. LLMs can be used to generate fake news and propaganda, leading to political instability or interference with elections. LLMs can also lead to job losses in the West by automating tasks currently done by humans, such as writing code, translating languages, and generating creative content. China’s focus on LLM could give it an edge in areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and autonomous vehicles, which could lead to China becoming a more dominant player in the global economy.
In response to these concerns, the US and Western governments have taken steps to regulate LLMs and other forms of artificial intelligence. For example, the US government has banned the use of deepfakes by government agencies, and the European Union has proposed regulations that would require companies to disclose how they use AI.
Despite concerns, Chinese experts on AI concede that China’s focus on LLM in generative AI is part of their broader effort to become a leader in artificial intelligence. US and Western countries are worried about China’s AI ambitions because they believe China could use AI to gain a strategic advantage over them. However, US and Western countries are taking steps to regulate AI to protect themselves from potential threats.
