China needs to problem the US in synthetic intelligence. China’s tech giants have launched their very own AI fashions.
Nifon | Istock | Getty Photos
International consideration round generative synthetic intelligence is targeted on main American firms comparable to OpenAI, Alphabet‘s Google and Meta.
However a few of the Chinese language giants, out Alibaba.com Disagreeable Tencent, have launched their very own AI fashions over the previous 18 months, trying to capitalize on the hype surrounding the know-how.
China’s ambitions to turn into the world chief in AI add a brand new layer to the nation’s know-how battle with the US. China is seen as catching up with the US, however the race is heating up.
Generative AI contains purposes comparable to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which has the flexibility to generate textual content, pictures, and even video primarily based on person prompts. These purposes are powered by giant AI fashions educated on large quantities of knowledge, comparable to Google’s Gemini.
Chinese language know-how firmS have needed to tread rigorously in releasing their know-how, as Beijing imposes strict necessities on AI fashions and their use.
CNBC goes by the main Chinese language AI fashions developed by the nation’s largest tech firms.
Baidu: ERNIE
Baiduone in every of China’s largest web firms, was among the many first within the nation to launch generative AI purposes. The mannequin is the driving power behind Ernie Bot, an AI chatbot designed to rival OpenAI’s ChatGPT that the Chinese language firm says has 300 million customers.
Earlier than the “Turbo” model of the mannequin, Baidu mentioned the newest model – Ernie 4.0 – has capabilities just like OpenAI’s GPT-4. In response to Baidu, the basic mannequin can perceive and purpose.
Like different firms, Baidu sells the flexibility to make use of its AI mannequin by its cloud computing division.
Alibaba: Tongyi Qianwen
Alibaba launched its fundamental fashions, Tongyi Qianwen, final yr. Usually shortened to Qwen, Alibaba.com has developed a number of variations that may carry out completely different duties. For instance, one mannequin focuses on creating content material or fixing mathematical issues. One other can perceive audio-based enter and supply text-based output.
Some variations of the Qwen fashions are open supply, that means that they are often overtly downloaded and utilized by builders, with some limitations.
Alibaba mentioned in Might that its Qwen fashions have been deployed by greater than 90,000 enterprise customers.
Tencent: Hunyuan
Final yr, Tencent launched its personal elementary mannequin referred to as Hunyuan.
Enterprises can entry Hunyuan’s capabilities by Tencent’s cloud computing enterprise. Tencent has mentioned that Hunyuan has robust Chinese language language processing abilities and “superior” logical reasoning. The mannequin helps options comparable to picture creation and textual content recognition.
Tencent has positioned the mannequin as one which can be utilized by firms in industries from gaming to social media and e-commerce.
Tencent operates China’s largest messaging app, WeChat. The corporate this yr launched an AI chatbot primarily based on its Hunyuan mannequin. The AI assistant, generally known as Yuanbao, can pull info and content material from WeChat as Tencent seems to be to distinguish its providing from rivals.
Huawei: Pangu
Huawei has taken a barely completely different strategy to rivals with its Pangu AI fashions. It has created a lot of AI fashions aimed toward prospects in particular sectors, together with authorities, finance, manufacturing, mining and meteorology.
For instance, Huawei mentioned its Pangu Meteorology Mannequin can predict the trail of a hurricane in about 10 seconds in 10 days, as an alternative of the 4 to 5 hours beforehand required.
These fashions, offered by the corporate’s cloud computing enterprise, may also assist generative options, comparable to the flexibility to generate code and digital human avatars.
ByteDance: Doubao
TikTok proprietor ByteDance launched an AI mannequin this yr, placing it late within the race in opposition to opponents like Baidu and Alibaba.
Nonetheless, ByteDance launched its AI mannequin at a value less expensive than the opposite firms.
The Doubao mannequin contains the flexibility to generate votes and generate code for builders.