Hong Kong Unveils Its ChatGPT Rival Amid OpenAI’s Tightened Restrictions
Staff Editor
2 min read
Hong Kong has embarked on an ambitious project to develop its own ChatGPT-style tool, a move steered by the city’s government in collaboration with academic institutions. This initiative comes in response to OpenAI’s restrictive measures, which have blocked access to their services from Hong Kong and other unsupported regions. The brainchild of a generative AI research and development center, this AI program is spearheaded by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, with input from various other universities.
Given the current geopolitical landscape, Hong Kong finds itself in a unique position where it cannot rely on tech giants like Microsoft and Google for subsidizing such projects. As a result, the government’s involvement has become indispensable. The innovation minister emphasized the necessity of this self-sufficient approach, highlighting that the city’s exclusion from OpenAI’s list of supported territories has compelled local authorities to initiate their own AI developments.
The AI landscape in China, including Hong Kong and Macao, presents a challenging environment. OpenAI’s non-inclusion of these regions raises questions yet unanswered but has led to accounts in these areas being blocked from accessing its services. Francis Fong, the honorary president of the Hong Kong Information Technology Federation, pointed out the uncertainty surrounding the new AI program’s capabilities. However, he remains optimistic, suggesting that with the input of local AI companies, Hong Kong’s tool could technologically catch up to the standards set by ChatGPT.
China’s stringent internet censorship policies further complicate matters. Most foreign websites and applications, including ChatGPT, are technically unavailable in China due to the country’s firewall. Nonetheless, Chinese tech giants like Alibaba and Baidu have already introduced AI models similar to ChatGPT, specifically designed to comply with China’s censorship rules. These models are primarily Chinese-language and cater to both public and commercial sectors.
Hong Kong, while part of China, has distinct linguistic and cultural elements, most notably the widespread use of Cantonese rather than Mandarin. To address this, SenseTime, a leading Chinese AI company, has launched SenseChat tailored for Hong Kong’s Cantonese-speaking population. However, a quick review of the application reveals its limitations; it steers clear of providing information on politically sensitive topics such as the Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989 or the Hong Kong protests in 2019. These protests, initially sparked by unpopular legislation, evolved into a significant anti-government movement, posing the greatest political challenge to Beijing’s rule since the former British colony’s handover to China in 1997.
As Hong Kong continues to navigate the complex terrain of AI and internet censorship, the success of its homegrown ChatGPT-style tool remains to be seen. The local government’s proactive stance in developing this technology highlights a shift towards self-reliance and innovation amidst external restrictions. While challenges undoubtedly lie ahead, the collaboration between government bodies, academic institutions, and local AI firms showcases a concerted effort to place Hong Kong on the AI map.
