Beijing pulls the plug on chatbot

Beatrice Nolan - Beijing has started to clamp down on access to ChatGPT in China, according to reports.

OpenAI's chatbot is not officially available in China, but some people have reportedly found ways to access it via VPNs or "mini programmes" released by third-party developers.

Beijing uses its "Great Firewall" to block many foreign websites and applications, including the full version of Google Search.

According to the Japanese publication Nikkei Asia, Chinese regulators have told major Chinese tech firms, including Tencent, WeChat's parent company, to cut access to programmes that provide access to the bot.

Tech companies in China that want to develop their own AI chatbots must also report to regulators before any launch, the outlet reported citing unnamed sources.

Growing alarm

The move comes amid growing alarm in China about some of ChatGPT's uncensored responses to users' questions.

Earlier this week, China Daily, a state-controlled media outlet, released a video called "How the US uses AI to spread disinformation," according to Forbes.

In the video, the presenter calls ChatGPT's answers about Xinjiang that include the reports of human rights abuse against the region's Uyghur Muslims, a "perfectly typed answer in line with US government talking points."

China has repeatedly rejected any allegations of human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims.

OpenAI and Tencent did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment made outside normal working hours. – Fin24/Business Insider