China approves more than 40 AI language models for public use

China approves more than 40 AI language models for public use is profiled by BTW Media because published evidence links it to internet infrastructure, governance, operational dependencies, or market visibility.

• China has recently approved more than 40 artificial intelligence models for public use.
• At the time ChatGPT launched, China was home to 40 percent of the world’s 130 LLM’s, second only to the United States.
• Chinese AI models such as Alibaba’s chatbot Tongyi Qianwen can perform various tasks such as writing notes, emails and proposals, as well as generate stories, code and images. It is based on GPT-4 and Bing search engines and is available in both Chinese and English.

Gruelling AI match-off

According to Chinese media reports, China’s recent approval of more than 40 AI models for public use marks an important milestone in the development of artificial intelligence (AI). The milestone comes just six months after the launch of a new approval process, and serves as a reminder that China is committed to advancing in the global AI race. And that race is heating up fast.

The most recent approvals include 14 large language models (LLMs), with well-known companies such as Xiaomi and 01.AI among the recipients. This is the fourth round of approvals, signalling the country’s rapid and focused adoption of AI technology.

Also read: China AI startup 01.AI valued at $1B in eight months

The process began in August last year, when Beijing required tech companies to obtain regulatory approval to use their LLMs publicly. The requirement was a strategic move to promote the development of AI while ensuring it remained within the government’s regulatory framework.

Since the policy was implemented, approvals have been granted in several batches. The first batch, which included AI models from large companies such as Baidu, Alibaba and ByteDance, was granted shortly after the policy was introduced. Further approvals took place in November and December, with the latest batch having been approved this month.

The exact list of all approved AI models has not been made public. However, the rapid pace of approvals reflects the strong interest and efforts of Chinese companies in the AI space. The surge in AI development is driven in part by the international success of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in 2022. At that time, China had 40% of the world’s 130 LLMs, second only to the US at 50%.

A highlight of China’s AI journey is Baidu’s Ernie Bot, similar to ChatGPT, which has amassed over 100 million users. This example shows the huge potential and growing enthusiasm for AI in China. According to Chinese media reports, since authorities began the approval process. China recently approved more than 40 AI models for public use, marking an important milestone in the development of artificial intelligence (AI). The milestone comes just six months after the launch of a new approval process, and is a reminder that China is committed to making progress in the global AI race. And that race is heating up fast.

The hidden treasure

The exact list of all approved AI models has not been made public. However, the rapid pace of approvals reflects the strong interest and efforts of Chinese companies in the AI space. The surge in AI development is driven in part by the international success of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in 2022. At that time, China had 40 per cent of the world’s 130 LLMs, second only to the US at 50 per cent.

A highlight of China’s AI journey is Baidu’s Ernie Bot, similar to ChatGPT, which has amassed over 100 million users. This example shows the huge potential and growing enthusiasm for AI in China.

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