China has approved over 40 artificial intelligence (AI) models for public use in the past six months to catch up with the U.S. in AI development. Among the companies receiving approval are Xiaomi Corp, 4Paradigm, and 01.AI. This follows Beijing’s decision to require tech companies to obtain regulatory approval to release their large language models (LLMs) to the public. Baidu, Alibaba, and ByteDance were among the first to receive approval. The move comes as Chinese companies race to develop AI products following the success of OpenAI’s chatbot, ChatGPT, according to an article by Reuters.
China’s Progress in AI Development
China has made significant strides in artificial intelligence (AI), with over 40 AI models receiving approval for public use in the first half-year since the initiation of the approval process. This move is part of China’s efforts to match the pace of AI development in the United States, as reported by Chinese media.
Regulatory Approvals for AI Models
In the most recent batch, Chinese authorities granted approval to 14 large language models (LLMs) for public use. This marks the fourth round of approvals, with recipients including prominent tech companies such as Xiaomi Corp, 4Paradigm, and 01.AI. The approval process began in August last year, with Beijing requiring tech companies to obtain regulatory approval before making their LLMs available to the public. This requirement highlights China’s strategy of fostering AI technology development while maintaining regulatory oversight.
Initial Batch of AI Model Approvals
The first batch of AI models received Beijing’s approval shortly after implementing the approval process. Among the first companies to receive approvals were Baidu, Alibaba, and ByteDance. Subsequent approvals were granted in November and December, with another batch approved this month. Although the government has not released a comprehensive list of approved companies, it is reported that over 40 AI models have been approved.
AI Development in Chinese Companies
The success of OpenAI’s chatbot ChatGPT in 2022 sparked a rush among Chinese companies to develop AI products. China had 130 LLMs at that time, constituting 40% of the global total, slightly trailing the United States’ 50% share, per brokerage CLSA. Baidu’s Ernie Bot, a chatbot similar to ChatGPT, has reportedly attracted over 100 million users, demonstrating the potential and reach of AI technology in China.
User Base of AI Models
One of the AI models that has gained significant traction is Baidu’s Ernie Bot, a chatbot similar to ChatGPT. According to the company’s Chief Technology Officer, the chatbot has amassed over 100 million users since December. This indicates the growing acceptance and use of AI models among the public, further underscoring the importance of regulatory oversight in this rapidly evolving field.
