China has approved the first set of large language models (LLMs). The technology, employed in training services like ChatGPT, has received regulatory clearance for commercial applications.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!According to company announcements, 14 LLMs and their related enterprise applications, including those from companies like Xiaomi, Beijing Fourth Paradigm Technology, and 01.AI, have been officially sanctioned for deployment.
The endorsement is in harmony with the growing engagement of local technology firms in advancing the widespread application of AI across various industries.
The recently approved group comprises industry-specific LLMs, in contrast to the earlier approval of general AI models. This suggests that AI development and regulation in mainland China are emphasizing the enhancement of enterprise efficiency, bringing the current tally of government-approved LLMs and related applications in China to over 40.
Several companies received approval from the Chinese government for their large language models (LLMs) earlier this month. Among them, Frontis.AI, a startup founded in 2021 by former JD.com senior vice-president Zhou Bowen, secured approval for its “Pinshang” and “Moxiaoxian” LLMs. These models are focused on offering industry insights and aiding product and marketing innovation for consumer product companies. Frontis.AI expresses its intention to provide more tailored services to its enterprise clients.
Chinese authorities also approved industry-specific large language models (LLMs) developed by cybersecurity firm ThreatBook and video solutions provider XinYi Tech. ThreatBook’s XGPT AI model is notable as the first LLM explicitly designed for internet security in China, with the company highlighting its capability to assist enterprises in obtaining timely and accurate analyses of potential security threats. Meanwhile, XinYi Tech’s LLM is a pioneering development in the domestic industry, focusing on AI-powered video-generating and processing tools intended for application in advertising, education, media, and e-commerce.
Among the notable AI applications approved is a smart resume-enhancing tool provided by the Chinese online recruitment platform Zhaopin. Additionally, approval has been granted to chatbots developed by the e-commerce services firm Beijing Zhidemai Tech and the mobile-books-magazine-and-comics provider iReader Technology.
Motivated by the worldwide influence of OpenAI’s ChatGPT release, Chinese companies have been energetically engaged in the creation of AI products. Nevertheless, the fervent focus on Large Language Models (LLMs) within the nation has faced criticism from certain industry leaders who view it as “a significant waste of resources.”
Robin Li Yanhong, the founder, chairman, and chief executive of Baidu, an internet search and AI company, has called upon the government to champion increased efforts in application development. The goal is to introduce more services, like ChatGPT, to the market. As of October 2023, according to his statements, there were 238 Large Language Models (LLMs) in the country, with the majority still awaiting government approval.
The recent authorizations come after the initial introduction of generative AI services to the public in August 2023. In the previous year, China established the China Electronic Standardization Institute, a new governmental entity responsible for supervising the implementation of a national Large Language Model (LLM) standard.
China’s recent endorsement of a fresh set of LLMs underscores its dedication to advancing AI, showcasing a concerted effort by domestic technology firms to encourage AI adoption across diverse sectors.
