China’s relentless pursuit of artificial intelligence (AI) advancement has witnessed significant strides, with over 40 AI models securing approval for public deployment within the initial six months since the regulatory approval process commenced.

This ambitious endeavor reflects China’s determined efforts to bridge the gap with the United States in the realm of AI development, as reported by Chinese media outlets.

More recently, over the last week, Chinese regulators granted their seal of approval to a roster of 14 large language models (LLM) for public accessibility, marking the fourth batch of such approvals. Recipients of these coveted approvals include prominent entities such as Xiaomi Corp, 4Paradigm, and 01.AI.

Beijing embarked on its regulatory directive in August last year, mandating that technology companies seek regulatory approval to make their expansive array of LLMs accessible to the public. This move highlighted China’s distinctive approach to advancing AI technology, characterized by a concurrent emphasis on development and stringent control. Rival AI models from the US and other Western regions have been largely criticized for the lack of any approvals.

In the initial stages of this regulatory approval, Beijing approved its maiden batch of AI models last year. Among the recipients were industry giants such as Baidu, Alibaba, and ByteDance, signaling the government’s endorsement of their commitment to AI innovation. This multifaceted approach underscores China’s intent to steer AI development in a direction that aligns with its overarching objectives and priorities.

After the inaugural approvals in August, Chinese regulators continued by greenlighting two additional batches of AI models in November and December. The latest development emerged as yet another batch secured regulatory clearance earlier this month.

Although the government has maintained discretion regarding the precise roster of approved companies, the Securities Times recently reported that the tally of authorized AI models has now exceeded 40.

This multifaceted initiative has spurred a surge of enthusiasm among Chinese companies, who have been steadfast in their pursuit of AI product development, particularly in the wake of the global sensation sparked by OpenAI’s ChatGPT in 2022, which continues to gain more features to this day.

Via: Reuters