Chinese apps remove ChatGPT as global AI race heats up

ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI, has been removed from several Chinese social media platforms. Although the chatbot is not officially available in China, some apps on the WeChat platform had allowed access to it without the need for a VPN or foreign mobile number.

It is unclear why the services have been suspended, but there are signs that China may be souring on ChatGPT. State-run media released a video earlier this week claiming that the chatbot could be used by US authorities to “spread disinformation and manipulate public opinion,” and China Daily has declared that its rise highlights the need for “strict regulations”. The success of ChatGPT has spurred a global AI race, with Microsoft and Google both developing their own versions.