In the early hours of June 25, several users received a push email from OpenAI stating that it would begin blocking API (application programming interface) services from non-supporting countries and regions on July 9.
The news instantly exploded in the scientific and technological circle, and set off a wave of artificial intelligence in the world not a small earthquake.
OpenAI currently serves 161 countries and territories, excluding mainland China and Hong Kong.
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OpenAI told API users in China that it will take measures to block API traffic from a list of countries and regions that are no longer supported. If affected organizations wish to continue using OpenAI’s services, must visit the country or region it supports.
What does this sudden”Burn notice” mean?
Means that the domestic hope to use OpenAI shell large model start-up companies, or ushered in a serious blow.
In the past, some companies have built AI applications by tapping into OpenAI’s API.
But now, that path is dead, and these companies may be facing the risk of market obsolescence.
If a company or team is developing their own AI product without in-depth development or innovation, and instead just packaging or modifying the interface or some functionality, it may not be sustainable.
But why would OpenAI, a highly profitable company, end its service to China?
Isn’t that what business is all about? Giving up China’s big cake is either insane or a last resort.
On the face of it, it was the US government, driven to its knees by political considerations.
One may have to do with recent investment regulations in the US.
On June 21, the U.S. Treasury Department issued proposed rules to limit investments in China by U.S. entities in three high-tech sectors: semiconductors and microelectronics, Quantum Information Technology and artificial intelligence, and set out the detailed regulations.
In other words, the U.S. Treasury Department requires regulation of certain U.S. investments in areas like semiconductors and AI, and limits investment in Chinese technology.
Second, legal compliance and data security may be taken into account.
On June 13, OpenAI announced that retired U.S. Army General Paul Nakasone had joined the company’s board.
According to some sources, Nakasone is a leading expert in the field of American cybersecurity, technological advances and global cyberdefense, former National Security Agency, Central Security Service and United States Cyber Command.
Nakasone has vowed that the Chinese challenge to cyber security, global espionage and other areas of international defence is the most comprehensive and daunting for the US and will last for decades.
Clearly, this is another version of the “China threat” theory, and according to Nakasone, it would be a turning point if our country moved a step further than the US in artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
So Nakasone has been worried about Chinese ai overtaking the US, and has tried to block it.
After US Senator Ted Cruz spread a rumor that “Chinese citizens are suspected of stealing American intellectual property”, nakasone responded by saying that a comprehensive approach must be developed to protect intellectual property rights — what is the responsibility of the private sector? What should be included in the contract? What must be done to secure networks and data?
So Nakasone is a veritable hawk, and joining the OpenAI board is a political mission.
His involvement has forced OpenAI to become more cautious about data security and legal compliance.
Industry analysts say the shutdown of OpenAI’s API service in China may have something to do with the new board member.
At a deeper level, the ban is no doubt the news of China and the United States AI technology decoupling another substantive step, indicates the global pattern of AI industry may change significantly.
In fact, OpenAI’s ban is not without warning.
In March, OpenAI began restricting account registration in some parts of the asia-pacific region, this time directly affecting existing accounts.
There has long been speculation in the industry that such restrictions could escalate as technology competition between China and the US intensifies.
OpenAI’s decision not only has an impact on the existing AI ecosystem in the country, but also indicates that similar bans could be imposed on more U.S. technology companies, such as Google and Meta, in the future.
There is no denying that the United States has the upper hand in this AI revolution. Microsoft has returned to the top of the U.S. stock market with its investment and innovation in AI, while Apple has abandoned its smart-car project in favor of AI.
Nvidia is the star of the US stock market for its GPU chips, while OpenAI is hailed as a leader in technology.
This wave of AI technology not only brings great business opportunities, but also makes the United States in the global scientific and technological leadership further consolidated.
However, for the countries and regions that rely on these technologies, the embargo is undoubtedly a heavy blow.
China, in particular, as a key player in global AI technology, the ban will force domestic companies and developers to find new solutions.
How should China respond?
Faced with the ban on OpenAI, domestic AI developers and entrepreneurs will have to quickly adapt to the new environment.
One obvious option is to switch to native AI API interface tools.
In addition, the application of the open source model will become an important alternative.
Most of the foreign AI tools have been open source, which provides domestic developers to continue AI research and application possibilities.
Although the open source model may have some limitations in some aspects, it is possible to build competitive AI products through secondary development combined with local needs.
While OpenAI’s technology will be limited to China, isn’t this an opportunity?
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On the one hand, domestic companies hoping to start their businesses with OpenAI’s large models have been hit hard, on the other hand, domestic big models such as Baidu and Ali have been quick to launch “Relocation services” in an attempt to grab incremental territory quickly.
Besides, is OpenAI really capable of anything?
Do you see the beautiful Boeing spacecraft or the helium leak?
Aren’t the astronauts still stuck on the International Space Station?
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At the moment, the American AIGC (big model) looks sexy, can talk, can write poetry, can write code, but these really useful?
Isn’t the current global Chinese military robot dog making us congressmen antsy and anxious?
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Four Chinese students and academics who had been studying in the US and attending academic conferences were taken to the so-called“Black Room” by CBP officials immediately after arriving in the US for questioning. In the end, the visas of the three were revoked and they were repatriated.
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The students and academics are said to have a background in science and engineering, with two of them working on artificial intelligence (AI) .
Why are you being treated so unfairly?
The goal of the US, of course, is not to safeguard the so-called“National border security”, but to curb the development of Chinese science and technology, and to maintain the US scientific hegemony.
This fully exposes the US’s bullying and anxiety and lack of confidence in the science and technology field.
On June 24th Courtes Campbell, America’s Deputy Secretary of State, said the US needed more Chinese liberal arts students and Indian science ones.
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What does that mean?
On the one hand, the United States is already a paranoid, jittery, constantly high-tech areas of China’s crackdown and sanctions.
On the other hand, the core technology is the great power re-value, is not to come, to buy, to beg. If you do not master the core technology, it is easy to be stuck by others neck.
Huawei’s experience, for example, has taught many people the true nature of the idea that buying is better than buying, and renting is better than buying.
To put it bluntly, only increase r & D investment, master the core technology, can be based on the Forest of World Enterprises!
Furthermore, not playing with OpenAI is a good thing for our national security.
At one point, OpenAI’s CHATGPT was asked why the US was blocking Chinese semiconductors. Faced with this question, Chatgpt was silent for a minute before answering.
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CHATGPT’s answer goes something like this: “The United States is taking necessary measures to protect its security and economic interests because China’s rapid growth in semiconductors could pose a threat to the United States. . .”.
As you can see, the position of the OpenAI AI robot is almost the same as that of the western public opinion as a whole, speaking from the perspective of the United States.
CHATGPT was invented in the United States, its thinking of course can not be separated from the american-style“Double standard”, if CHATGPT into China’s popularity, the consequences can be imagined.
As a result, some netizens issued some warnings, “Brainwashing AI is as easy as brainwashing a child.”“He will say whatever he injects into AI. Independent-thinking AI does not exist at present.”.
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Another netizen commented pointedly that this was“The influence of toxic teaching materials on artificial intelligence”.
In addition, there are foreign media reports that CHATGPT may be integrated into Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other applications so that customers can use simple prompts to automatically generate text.
It could change the way more than a billion people write documents, presentations and e-mails in ways that are hard to imagine.
In that sense, it’s not a bad thing for Chinese users to be shut out of OpenAI.
Now that we are not afraid of being“Stuck” by the US, it could actually force Chinese technology companies to accelerate their own R & D, and encourage more start-ups to choose chinese-made large models to avoid possible risks in the future.
I believe that China’s future artificial intelligence, will be surrounded and blockaded to open up a truly belong to their own brand-new road.