OpenAI has warned developers in China that it will start blocking their access to its tools and programs starting from July, according to local media reports. It seems that the developer of the ChatGPT AI chatbot is taking strict measures to prevent users from countries where its services are not offered.
The emerging company, backed by Microsoft, has sent memos to developers in several regions regarding the upcoming move, as shown in images posted on social media platforms.
The company is taking strict measures to prevent attempts to access its AI services from unsupported countries and regions through APIs, including China and Hong Kong, leading to widening the gap in the field of AI between China and the United States.
OpenAI’s action will impact Chinese companies that rely on its models to develop their services. Chinese startups in the AI field are building applications based on OpenAI’s models, contributing to the revenue increase for this American company.
Local Chinese companies have issued notices urging developers to switch their products to their platforms, including Alibaba and Tencent.
The reasons for OpenAI taking this step were not clear. In May, the company revealed that it had halted at least five secret influence operations in recent months, stating that they were using its products to manipulate public opinion.
The memo comes as pressure mounts from Washington to curb China’s advancements in AI technology.
OpenAI has provided AI services in over 160 countries, but its products are still not officially available in China and Hong Kong.
Users rely on VPNs or third-party applications to access ChatGPT, while developers need to resort to external agents and servers to bypass the restrictions.
Chinese companies are striving to develop advanced AI models to compete with ChatGPT. The Chinese government encourages local companies to innovate in the field of AI, considering this technology crucial to enhancing China’s economic and military roles.
Currently, the United States is working to restrict China’s access to biotechnology. The U.S. Treasury Department has proposed rules to limit foreign investments in technologies deemed vital to national security, such as electronic chips and AI.
The restrictions, being prepared for over a year, are part of President Joe Biden’s strategy to limit China’s ability to develop sensitive technologies that pose a threat to U.S. national security.
