China Unveils XiGPT: A New AI Model That Speaks the Official Party Line
In a move that is set to revolutionize the AI landscape in China, the country’s top internet regulator has introduced a large language model based on President Xi Jinping’s political philosophy. This new AI model, dubbed XiGPT, is being developed by the China Cyberspace Research Institute, a body under the Cyberspace Administration of China.
XiGPT: The Future of AI in China
The core content of XiGPT comprises Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, which was incorporated into China’s constitution in 2018. This philosophy is the guiding principle behind XiGPT, ensuring that the AI model aligns with the official government narrative.
“The professionalism and authority of the corpus ensure the professional quality of the generated content,” the administration said in a post published on Monday on the WeChat account of the administration’s magazine.
Unlike other AI systems, XiGPT is built on a select knowledge base with locally generated data and is not open-sourced, ensuring its secure and reliable nature. This AI model is expected to cater to a wide range of users’ needs, including answering questions, summarizing information, and translating between Chinese and English.
China’s AI Sector: Rapid Growth and Development
The introduction of XiGPT comes as China aims to leverage AI to drive economic growth while maintaining strict regulatory control over cybersecurity. The AI sector in China has been witnessing rapid growth, with Baidu Inc. recently surpassing the 200 million users milestone for their AI chatbot.
However, China is still striving to develop its version of ChatGPT, the chatbot released by OpenAI in 2022, according to AI pioneer Kai-Fu Lee. The U.S. is considering regulations to restrict China’s access to advanced AI software, such as those used in ChatGPT, as a strategy to safeguard U.S. AI from China.
The AI Race: China vs. the U.S.
As the AI landscape continues to evolve, one thing is clear: the development of XiGPT marks a significant milestone in China’s AI sector. With its focus on security, reliability, and alignment with the official government narrative, XiGPT is set to play a crucial role in shaping the future of AI in China.
