At least three Chinese tech firms including Baidu, Baichuan Intelligent Technology and Zhipu AI are on Thursday launching artificial intelligence (AI) products after getting government approval as China accelerates AI deployment. Baidu, China’s leading online search provider, said in a statement its ChatGPT-like AI chatbot Ernie Bot would be fully open to the general public. Two AI startups, Baichuan Intelligent Technology and Zhipu AI, also said their chatbots would be officially launched on Thursday. All three said their products had received government approval. Baidu’s shares were up about 4.5% in early trade in Hong Kong. Unlike in Western countries where AI products can be launched without regulatory approval, China requires companies to submit security assessments and get clearance before releasing mass market AI products. Authorities have recently accelerated efforts to support companies to develop AI as the technology increasingly becomes a focus of competition with the U.S.
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