OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, recently sent an email to Chinese users stating that it will terminate API services to China starting from July 9. In the face of the United States' attempt to block China's AI progress through investment bans, the Chinese government has also publicly encouraged local companies to innovate. Both Baidu and Alibaba Cloud actively grabbed the market after the news was announced.

OpenAI will end API services to China in July

According to the Central News Agency, OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, recently sent an email to Chinese users stating that it will block application programming interface (API) traffic from "non-supported countries and regions" starting from July 9, which means that OpenAI will terminate its services to China. API services.

Although OpenAI's API is currently open to 161 countries and regions, not including China, many developers obtain its tools through VPN and other methods.

The United States tries to block China’s AI progress

U.S. President Biden signed an executive order in August last year, instructing relevant agencies to supervise certain U.S. investments in semiconductors, microelectronics, quantum computing and artificial intelligence to prevent U.S. technology from assisting China in developing precision technology and dominating the global market.

The U.S. Treasury Department released the proposed rule with a series of exceptions on June 21, following an initial comment period. These regulations place the onus on U.S. individuals and companies to determine which transactions will be restricted or prohibited. The proposed regulations would ban transactions covering AI for certain end-uses and systems involving training using specific amounts of computing power, but would also require notification of the development of AI systems or semiconductor-related transactions that are not prohibited.

The U.S. will seek public comment on the proposed rules until August 4, with implementation expected by the end of the year.

The above-mentioned actions of OpenAI are also considered to be based on comprehensive considerations of compliance with laws, data security and other factors.

Baidu/Alibaba Cloud actively seize the market

According to a report by World News Network, China’s Ministry of Commerce angrily accused the United States of repeatedly emphasizing that it has no intention of “decoupling” from China, but insists on issuing proposed regulations to restrict U.S. companies’ investment in China and suppress the normal development of Chinese industries.

After OpenAI announced the termination of API services in mainland China, Alibaba Cloud Bailian immediately announced that it would provide OpenAI API users with alternatives with higher CP values. In addition, Baidu Intelligent Cloud Qianfan launched a large-scale inclusive plan to provide zero-yuan calls for newly registered enterprise users to win the favor of users.

Chinese companies such as Baidu and Alibaba are working hard to develop AI models comparable to ChatGPT. The Chinese government has repeatedly publicly encouraged local Chinese companies to innovate in the field of artificial intelligence and believes that this technology is crucial to consolidating China's economic and military status.

This article Sino-US competition expands into the AI ​​industry, and OpenAI terminates the provision of API services to China. First appeared on Chain News ABMedia.