Chinese AI firms are swiftly attracting users of OpenAI’s technology amid reports that the U.S.-based company intends to limit access to its application programming interface (API) in the Chinese mainland and other nations.
OpenAI, renowned for its ChatGPT model, is reportedly planning to restrict access to its AI-building technology for entities based in the Chinese mainland and other countries, according to Chinese newspaper Securities Times on Tuesday.
While ChatGPT itself is not directly available in the Chinese mainland, numerous Chinese startups have leveraged OpenAI’s API platform to develop their own applications, offering AI-powered services to domestic users.
“We are taking additional steps to block API traffic from regions where we do not support access to OpenAI’s services,” an OpenAI spokesperson said in a statement to Reuters.
Since late Monday, users in the Chinese mainland have reported receiving emails from OpenAI stating that their region is not currently supported. Starting on July 9, additional measures will be implemented to block API traffic from these unsupported regions.
The impending restrictions have prompted Chinese AI firms to accelerate their efforts in developing homegrown alternatives. Local startups are seizing the opportunity to fill the gap and meet the rising demand for AI applications within China.
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Chinese AI firms attract users as OpenAI announces API restrictions
cgtn.com
