China is looking to challenge the U.S. in artificial intelligence. Global attention around generative artificial intelligence has been focused on big U.S. companies like OpenAI, Alphabet’s Google and Meta. However, some of China’s tech giants have launched their own AI models over the past 18 months, looking to capitalize on the hype around the technology. China’s ambitions to become a world leader in AI adds another layer to the country’s technology battle with the U.S. China has been seen as playing catchup to the U.S. but the race is heating up.
Generative AI includes applications like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which has the ability to generate text, images and even video based on user prompts. These applications are powered by large AI models which are trained on huge amounts of data, such as Google’s Gemini. Chinese technology firms have had to tread carefully in releasing their technology as Beijing has strict requirements for AI models and their uses.
China’s tech giants, such as Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent, have launched their own AI models that can rival those of their U.S. counterparts. Baidu, one of China’s biggest internet companies, was among the first in the country to launch generative AI applications. Its model powers Ernie Bot, an AI chatbot designed to rival OpenAI’s ChatGPT and which the Chinese company says has 300 million users. Baidu’s latest version, Ernie 4.0, has capabilities on par with OpenAI’s GPT-4, with the ability to understand and reason.
Alibaba launched its set of foundational models, Tongyi Qianwen, last year. Often shortened to Qwen, Alibaba has developed various versions that can carry out different tasks, such as creating content or solving math problems. Some versions of its Qwen models are open-sourced, meaning they can be openly downloaded, with some limitations, and used by developers.
Tencent launched its own foundational model called Hunyuan, which can support functions including image creation and text recognition. Tencent has positioned the model as one that can be used by companies in industries from gaming to social media and e-commerce. The company has also launched an AI chatbot based on its Hunyuan model.
Huawei has taken a slightly different approach to rivals with its Pangu AI models. The company has created a number of AI models aimed at customers in specific industries, including government, finance, manufacturing, mining, and meteorology. For example, Huawei’s Pangu Meteorology Model can predict the trajectory of a typhoon over 10 days in around 10 seconds, rather than the four-to-five hours it took previously.
ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, launched an AI model this year, marking a late entrance into the race against competitors like Baidu and Alibaba. However, ByteDance brought out its AI model at a price much cheaper than the other companies. The Doubao model has the ability to generate voices as well as generate code for developers, among other capabilities.
These Chinese AI models, developed by Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent, Huawei, and ByteDance, are being sold through each company’s cloud computing division, enabling enterprises to utilize the models for their own applications and services. The models’ capabilities range from generating text to understanding and creating images and videos, and can be used in various industries including gaming, social media, e-commerce, and finance.
