Hong Kong is testing out its own ChatGPT-style tool as OpenAI ...
Hong Kong’s government is testing the city's own ChatGPT-style tool for its employees, with plans to eventually make it available to the public, its innovation minister said after OpenAI took extra steps to block access from the city and other unsupported regions.
Development of the ChatGPT-Style Tool
Secretary for Innovation, Technology, and Industry Sun Dong mentioned on a Saturday radio show that his bureau was experimenting with the artificial intelligence program, known in Chinese as the “document assistance application for civil servants," to enhance its capabilities. The initiative aims to expand the tool's accessibility across the government later this year. The program originated from a generative AI research and development center led by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in collaboration with various universities.
Sun highlighted that in the future, the model is expected to offer features like graphics and video design. However, the extent to which it can compare to the functionalities of ChatGPT remains uncertain.
Role of the Government and Industry Players
Regarding the tool's future development, Sun emphasized the involvement of industry players and the government, especially in the absence of substantial support from large corporations like Microsoft and Google due to Hong Kong's current situation.
With China and the United States in a competitive race for AI supremacy, China, including Hong Kong and Macao, is notably excluded from the list of “supported countries and territories” by OpenAI.
Challenges and Future Prospects
The exclusion of certain regions has prompted OpenAI to enforce additional measures to restrict access from unapproved locations starting July 9. The reasons behind this decision were not explicitly stated by the ChatGPT maker.
While ChatGPT remains technically unavailable in China due to internet censorship enforced by the country's firewall, determined individuals can still bypass these restrictions using virtual private networks. Chinese tech giants such as Alibaba and Baidu have developed Chinese-language AI models akin to ChatGPT, adhering to China’s strict censorship mandates.
In May, China’s cyberspace academy revealed the training of an AI chatbot based on President Xi Jinping’s ideology, underscoring the ideological boundaries within which Chinese AI models operate.
As the ChatGPT-style tool undergoes testing in Hong Kong, further advancements and collaborations with industry entities are expected to shape its evolution and eventual public release.
