China’s largest artificial intelligence (AI) fair, the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), showcased the country’s enthusiasm for generative AI despite US sanctions and Beijing’s cautious approach. At the event, Chinese firms proudly displayed their chat bots and large language models (LLMs), even though foreign applications like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard were absent due to China’s closed market for generative AI.
Alibaba Group Holding unveiled Tongyi Wanxiang, an application that generates images in the Midjourney style, while Alibaba’s Tongyi Qianwen demonstrated text-based functions similar to ChatGPT. Other exhibitors highlighted LLM-powered applications across various sectors, including logistics, education, finance, and construction. JD.com shared that it has invested over 100 billion yuan in AI and is leveraging LLM technology to improve product listing details.
Baidu, one of China’s leading tech companies, showcased a plug-in function that turns its AI model into an AI app store, expanding its capabilities to include third-party apps. SenseTime, a facial recognition firm, announced the completion of a comprehensive upgrade for its large AI model called SenseNova, enabling its chat bot SenseChat to handle long-form text input. NetEase, Qihoo 360, and Tencent Holdings also presented their LLM-based applications, emphasizing their potential to transform traditional industries.
Government officials and industry leaders expressed their commitment to boosting Chinese AI development. Xu Xiaolan, Vice-Minister for the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, highlighted the current market value of China’s AI industry, which exceeds 500 billion yuan and includes over 4,300 enterprises.
The display of China’s ChatGPT frenzy at WAIC illustrates the country’s determination to achieve AI ambitions despite international restrictions. Chinese companies are actively leveraging LLM-powered applications across various sectors, showcasing their capabilities and commitment to innovation. As China continues to invest in AI development, it aims to establish its core competitiveness in the LLM industry.
