OpenAI warns: will block China’s access to artificial intelligence tools

OpenAI has issued a warning to developers in China, stating that they will be prohibited from accessing its tools and software starting from July. This move indicates a more proactive stance being taken by the creators of ChatGPT, barring users from countries where its services are not offered.

According to screenshots posted on social media as reported by the Securities Times on Tuesday, this startup supported by Microsoft has sent memos to developers in various regions regarding the upcoming measures to be implemented.

Reports from Bloomberg highlight that local companies in China, including those supported by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and Tencent Holdings Ltd., such as the Zhifupu Artificial Intelligence Company (officially known as Beijing Zhifuhuazhang Technology Co., Ltd., abbreviated as Zhifu AI), have issued notifications encouraging developers to switch to their products.

It is currently unclear what prompted OpenAI to take this action, but the startup disclosed in May that it had severed connections with at least five undisclosed entities in the past few months, accusing them of manipulating public opinion using OpenAI products.

As Sam Altman’s company issued this memo, Washington is increasing pressure on U.S. tech companies to restrict China’s access to advanced artificial intelligence technology.

Although OpenAI is not officially recognized in China, many developers have been obtaining its tools through methods such as virtual private networks and other avenues.

From companies like Baidu to startups like Zhifu AI, Chinese enterprises are striving to develop artificial intelligence models that can rival ChatGPT and other American industry pioneers. The Chinese government openly encourages domestic companies to innovate in the field of artificial intelligence, viewing this technology as crucial for strengthening China’s economic and military position.

Simultaneously, Washington is working to prevent China from obtaining key technologies. The U.S. Treasury Department has proposed regulations limiting the export of technologies deemed essential for U.S. national security, including chips and artificial intelligence.

These restrictions have been brewing for over a year and form part of Joe Biden’s strategy to curb the Chinese government’s development of sensitive technologies threatening U.S. national security.

In recent years, misuse of OpenAI technology has been garnering attention. According to Agence France-Presse on March 29, OpenAI unveiled a voice replication tool that is set to undergo strict controls before being implemented to prevent voice fraud. OpenAI stated, “We recognize that generating speech that mimics a particular person carries significant risks, especially given election years. We work collaboratively with U.S. and international partners in government, media, entertainment, education, and civil society to ensure their input is incorporated into our development process.”

Researchers on misinformation are concerned that AI-driven applications could be widely abused in critical election years, as voice replication tools become more prevalent, inexpensive, user-friendly, and challenging to trace.

Months ago, a political consultant for a Democratic presidential primary candidate in the U.S. admitted to using AI-generated automated voice calls that impersonated President Biden, urging voters not to participate in the New Hampshire primary in January. This incident raised alarms among experts, who fear a surge in AI-generated deepfake misinformation before the U.S. presidential election in November and other major elections worldwide.