Chinese Tech Firms Compete With AI Models Against OpenAI, Google, Meta

Global interest in generative AI has focused on major US companies such as OpenAI, alphabetGoogle and Meta.

But some of China's giants, from alibaba to Tencent, They have been launching their own AI models over the past 18 months, looking to capitalize on the hype around the technology.

China’s ambitions to become a global leader in artificial intelligence add another layer to the country’s technology battle with the United States. China is seen as trying to catch up with the United States, but the race is heating up.

Generative AI includes applications like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which has the ability to generate text, images, and even videos based on user prompts. These applications are powered by large AI models trained on massive amounts of data, such as Google’s Gemini.

Chinese tech companies must tread carefully in launching their technologies, as Beijing imposes strict requirements on AI models and their uses.

CNBC looks at China's big AI models being developed by the country's biggest tech companies.

BaiduAmazon, one of China’s largest internet companies, was among the first in the country to launch generative AI applications. Its model is powered by Ernie Bot, an AI chatbot designed to rival OpenAI’s ChatGPT that the Chinese company says has 300 million users.

Before the “Turbo” release of the model, Baidu said its latest version — Ernie 4.0 — had capabilities on par with OpenAI’s GPT-4. According to Baidu, the base model can understand and reason.

Like other companies, Baidu sells the ability to use its AI model through its cloud computing division.

Alibaba launched its flagship model line, Tongye Qianwen, last year. Often abbreviated to Qwen, alibaba Different versions have been developed that can perform different tasks. For example, one model focuses on content generation or solving mathematical problems. Another model can understand voice-based inputs and provide text-based outputs.

Some versions of Qwen models are open source, meaning they can be downloaded openly, with some restrictions, and used by developers.

Alibaba said in May that its Qwen models had been deployed by more than 90,000 enterprise users.

Last year, Tencent launched its own startup model called Hunyuan.

Businesses can access Hunyuan's capabilities through Tencent's cloud computing business. Tencent He said Hunyuan has strong capabilities in Chinese language processing and “advanced” logical reasoning. The model can support functions including image generation and text recognition.

Tencent has positioned this model as one that companies can use in industries ranging from gaming to social media and e-commerce.

Tencent operates WeChat, China’s largest messaging app. This year, the company launched an AI-powered chatbot based on its Hunyuan model. Known as Yuanbao, the smart assistant can pull information and content from WeChat, as Tencent seeks to differentiate its offerings from competitors.

Huawei has taken a slightly different approach than its competitors with its Pangu AI models. It has created a number of AI models targeted at customers in specific industries including government, finance, manufacturing, mining, and meteorology.

For example, Huawei said its Pangu meteorological model can predict a hurricane's path over a 10-day period in about 10 seconds, instead of the four to five hours it previously took.

These models, which are sold through the company's cloud computing business, can also support generative features such as the ability to generate code and virtual human avatars.

ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, launched its AI model this year, marking a late entry into the race against rivals like Baidu and Alibaba.

However, ByteDance has offered its AI model at a much cheaper price than other companies.

Doubao's model has the ability to generate sounds as well as generate code for developers, among other capabilities.