China's Baidu introduces a bot reminiscent of ChatGPT in a bid to narrow the gap in the international AI race

At the moment, the chatbot is exclusively accessible within China’s borders.

China’s technological giant Baidu unveiled its counterpart to ChatGPT, named Ernie Bot, to the general public on Thursday. This milestone marks a significant stride for the country’s technology sector, as it endeavors to catch up in the global artificial intelligence surge.

China’s pursuit of harnessing the potential of the worldwide AI boom is paralleled by recent regulatory measures put forth by the Chinese government, enabling domestic AI developers to compete with major players like Microsoft and OpenAI while maintaining rigorous control over online information dissemination.

Ernie Bot represents the first domestically developed AI application available for public use exclusively within China’s borders, setting it apart from international accessibility.

“We are excited to announce that Ernie Bot is now fully accessible to the general public as of August 31,” Baidu declared in a statement on Thursday. The statement also outlined Baidu’s intention to launch a suite of new AI-native applications designed to provide users with a comprehensive experience of generative AI’s core capabilities: understanding, generation, reasoning, and memory.

Although Ernie Bot was introduced in March, its availability had been limited, as reported by AFP. By broadening its accessibility, Baidu aims to gather “extensive” human feedback to expedite and enhance the app’s refinement, as mentioned by CEO Robin Li in the statement.

Generative AI applications are cultivated using extensive data and user interactions, enabling them to respond to queries, including intricate ones, with human-like language.

The rapid ascendancy of OpenAI’s US-based ChatGPT, a platform prohibited in China, catalyzed a global race to produce competing applications, encompassing image and video generators. However, these developments were accompanied by growing concerns over the potential for misuse and the spread of disinformation.

Guidelines stipulated for Chinese generative AI apps necessitate alignment with “the core values of socialism.” They are also required to avoid jeopardizing national security, endorsing terrorism, violence, or “ethnic animosity.” These guidelines, published recently, encompass directives for labeling AI-generated content and curtailing the propagation of “false and harmful information.”

Furthermore, service providers must undertake security evaluations and submit algorithm-related documentation to authorities if their software is deemed to impact “public sentiment,” in accordance with the regulations.

Baidu, a prominent Chinese tech entity, contends with competition from Tencent and maintains a strategic focus on AI, cloud computing, and autonomous driving technologies. Additionally, SenseTime, a Hong Kong-listed firm, has secured Beijing’s approval for its services, according to Bloomberg reports.