Tencent unveils ChatGPT rival in China amid continuing US AI chip ban
Chinese technology corporation Tencent unveiled its “Hunyuan” artificial intelligence (AI) system, a multimodal large language model (LLM) similar to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, at the Global Digital Ecosystem Summit in Shenzhen on Sept. 7.
Say hi to Hunyuan! Our large foundation model, unveiled at the Global Digital Ecosystem Summit. The platform is now available to enterprises in China, supporting a heap of functions, from image creation, copywriting, customer service and more. https://t.co/ifLfc9yCVQ #AI pic.twitter.com/wWhRfzl3km
Hunyuan marks Tencent’s entry into “foundational models,” so named for their development as a framework upon which associated AI APIs can run.
According to a blog post from Tencent, Hunyuan is intended to function as a comprehensive suite of AI tools:
The AI system has also been integrated into Tencent’s ecosystem of applications and services with connectivity to Tencent Cloud, Tencent Marketing Solutions, Tencent Games, Tencent fintech services, Tencent Meeting, Tencent Docs, Weixin Search and QQ Browser.
The launch comes as relations between the United States and China remain icy after the Biden administration signed off on an export ban on certain kinds of computer chips, including hardware commonly used to develop and train AI systems, in October 2022.
According to a recent report, the two administrations continue to engage in diplomatic talks but haven’t made any headway toward establishing a timeline for ending the ban.
Tencent, for its part, says the launch of Hunyuan signals that it’s “committed to open collaboration in the ecosystem, with domestic businesses ultimately benefiting from the company’s high-quality model services, while international businesses leverage Tencent to access the Chinese
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