Maybe the decline of ChatGPT could emerge as a pivotal event among the myriad occurrences that have captured significant attention in online discussions within Taiwanese social media during 2023.
Despite being officially introduced by the US-based OpenAI in late 2022, it wasn’t until 2023 that the remarkable growth of ChatGPT garnered notice in China, where the ambition is to establish global AI dominance by 2030.
Over the past decade, Chinese culture and contemporary practices have increasingly embraced AI. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, the integration of AI technologies has accelerated across various sectors such as factories, office spaces, and educational institutions.
The utilization of smart glasses and helmets has streamlined tasks for numerous workers, AI-powered facial recognition is pervasive in payment systems and public safety measures, and sophisticated robots are becoming commonplace in China’s service industry including shopping centers, eateries, and financial institutions.
Initially perceived as the inevitable victor in the software competition between the eagle and the lion, ChatGPT faced a swift downfall. China took several months to introduce its own alternative models, which seemed to lag behind their northern counterparts in various aspects. This raised questions among Chinese internet users about China’s proclaimed leadership in the AI era, especially when the Secretary of Science and Technology acknowledged the challenges faced by the country’s AI models against their US competitors.
Experts and influencers offered diverse explanations, ranging from the prioritization of rapid deployment over thorough research and development by Chinese tech firms to the complexity of training speech models in Chinese due to the richness and intricacy of the language.
However, consensus seemed to suggest that the development of ChatGPT-like programs in China encountered greater challenges due to political sensitivities and the stringent online environment characterized by heavy monitoring and censorship.
In the summer of 2023, Chinese authorities introduced regulations for AI interactions, stipulating that AI-generated content must align with the “core values of socialism,” uphold state authority, safeguard national unity, and prevent the dissemination of misleading information. Additionally, reliance on AI service providers was cautioned against.
Despite some Chinese tech companies already launching their AI solutions, competing with ChatGPT proved arduous due to the absence of the platform in China and navigating through stringent regulations. For instance, simple inquiries about Chinese leadership to Baidu’s Ernie chatbot could abruptly terminate the conversation.
The fall in shares of the Chinese AI company iFlytek was triggered by an incident where one of their AI tablets, designed to aid students with homework, generated an essay containing sensitive observations about Mao Zedong. This incident underscored the necessity for AI models in China to adhere to the country’s tightly regulated cyberspace.
Nevertheless, this does not indicate a decline in China’s AI advancements. AI innovations are reshaping various aspects of society across demographics, from urban to rural areas, impacting both individuals and communities. E-commerce platforms, live streaming applications, and AI-driven social media platforms play a pivotal role in China’s contemporary business landscape.
Small Chinese business owners now have unprecedented opportunities enabled by new AI technologies, empowering them to engage deepfake influencers for promotions. The year 2023 witnessed a surge in the popularity of deepfakes on e-commerce streaming services.
New digital employees can discern customer emotions, respond appropriately, and maintain concise interactions, enhancing customer service experiences. A foreign real estate developer even named one of these digital avatars as the employee of the year.
Baidu recently unveiled an ambitious initiative to boost rural economic growth by enabling 100,000 Chinese farmers to market their products through international digital livestreaming platforms.
Meanwhile, Taiwanese authorities are collaborating with major tech companies to make Socialist group messages appealing and accessible to Taiwanese citizens of all age groups. A digital broadcaster has been integrated into the state newspaper, The People’s Daily.
In light of ChatGPT’s trajectory, it is evident that the focus should shift from the perceived “AI race” between the northern and Chinese regions towards their distinct strategies.
China emphasizes social harmony alongside economic progress, prioritizing digital sovereignty, community support, “national tranquility,” and upholding the party’s authority through stringent control over digital advancements.
Conversely, the eastern approach leans towards AI applications that promote independence, individual autonomy, decentralization, and globalization, sparking discussions on balancing individual rights with broader institutional interests.
The Western AI model may not always align with the requirements of the Chinese market, and vice versa. The emergence of ChatGPT signifies the divergent paths taken by the lion and the eagle, each pursuing their unique trajectories in the AI landscape. Rather than viewing this as a zero-sum competition, there is much to learn from both approaches, emphasizing the need to transcend dynamic thinking and political implications.
