Chat GPT Ban in Hong Kong and China
Chat GPT Ban (Openai’s services are not available in your country)
Openai's services are not available in your country is the error that you are likely to see if you are in Hong Kong and try to access Chat GPT. The recent Chat GPT ban blocking access to its services not only for casual users but also for developers in mainland China and Hong Kong has surprised the AI developer community in Hong Kong and China. This move, which took effect on July 9, 2024, halted all API access for these regions, forcing developers to seek alternatives. Despite the immediate challenges, some AI experts believe this could help to accelerate the growth of China and Hong Kong's domestic AI industry, this is a likely and unintended consequence for Open AI.
Impact on Developers and Industry Response
The OpenAI Chat GPT ban impacts numerous Chinese companies and developers who rely on Chat GPT generative AI models. Many have been using VPNs and third-party applications to bypass restrictions and gain access to OpenAI\'s Chat GPT API services. With the ban, these developers are now compelled to move towards to local AI solutions. In response, Chinese AI firms have swiftly adapted. Beijing-based Zhipu AI, for instance, launched a “special house-moving plan” offering free tokens and migration support to lure developers from Chat GPT to their own platforms. Major players like Alibaba, Baidu, and AI start-ups like Baichuan and 01.ai have also introduced incentives, such as steep discounts and technical support, to attract users to their AI models.
Growing Competition and Local AI Development
China already boasts over 200 home-grown large language models similar in capability to Chatgpt (LLMs), with 117 approved for public release as of March 2024. This local innovation is expected to intensify as companies scramble to fill the void left by OpenAI. The competitive landscape has even sparked a price war among Chinese AI firms, with some offering free access to less powerful models to gain market share. For example, SenseTime is a leading AI software company with its HQ in Hong Kong. It was founded 2014 by Tang Xiao'ou, a professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. This local AI company has grown to become a leading AI firm, known particularly in the fields of computer vision, including facial and image recognition and object detection.
Geopolitical Context and Future Prospects
This development is part of a broader tech war between the US and China, with the Biden administration imposing restrictions on China\'s access to advanced semiconductors and AI technologies. OpenAI’s action is seen as another step in this ongoing conflict, potentially driving further advancements in China’s self-sufficiency in AI technology. While this Chat GPT ban poses significant short-term challenges for Chinese developers, it may ultimately catalyse the growth and sophistication of China’s AI sector, pushing it closer to self-reliance and innovation.
Confusion Amid Contradictory Measures
Interestingly, Chat GPTs measures seem contradictory, given that Apple plans to launch its Chat GPT powered updates to iOS 18 this year. Furthermore, applications like Poe and others available in the Hong Kong App Store already provide access to these models. Additionally, Microsoft still allows access to OpenAI CoPilot, further complicating the landscape. These discrepancies highlight the complex and often conflicting nature of tech policies in the current geopolitical climate, raising questions about the efficacy and consistency of such restrictions.
Driving Toward Global Competitors
The OpenAI ban could inadvertently drive Hong Kong and China-based companies towards the increasing number of global competitors available. With more than 200 home-grown LLMs and growing support from other tech giants like Microsoft, which continues to allow access to OpenAI CoPilot, developers have numerous options to choose from. This move might diversify and strengthen the global AI ecosystem, fostering competitive innovation. This decision is particularly frustrating for developers and companies in China and Hong Kong. Many have invested significant time and resources into integrating OpenAI’s models into their services. The abrupt cutoff not only disrupts ongoing projects but also undermines the trust and stability expected from such partnerships.
PTS Opinion
By driving developers to alternative platforms, OpenAI and Chat GPT risk losing a significant user base and revenue from one of the largest tech markets in the world, how many times will users see openai's services are not available in your country and eventually just forget about it and opt for a local alternative. The inconsistency in policy enforcement—where some platforms and services remain accessible or in some cases not directly but through 3rd party services or VPN's, only adds to the confusion and frustration, making the ban seem arbitrary and ineffective. Rather than stifling innovation, these measures may inadvertently spur a surge in local AI development, as Chinese companies strive to fill the gap left by Chat GPT.
For more detailed information on chatgpt, you can read additional articles on the South China Morning Post here and here.
If you do see the message, OpenAI’s services are not available in your country, you can find community support here. (error=unsupported_country)