Although OpenAI's ChatGPT has not launched in China, its China-based subsidiary tried to register the trademark of its generative AI service ChatGPT, potentially eyeing the Chinese market.
AASTOCKS, citing Tianyancha, reported that OPENAI OPCO, LLC applied for registration of the 'GPT-4' trademark, as well as another trademark, 'WHISPER,' in China, with the former's current status being "under application.''
Chinastarmarket quoted sources close to Microsoft speculating that the move may be aimed at enabling clients in China to access OpenAI API to capitalize on China's huge market.
According to Chinastarmarket, many China-based companies said they had connected or planned to connect to ChatGPT, including ZKTeco, Shunya International, and Wondershare. The report quoted a source at Beijing Kingsoft Office Software saying that companies that have expanded overseas to partner with OpenAI, which currently has the best technology.
OpenAI's ChatGPT has encouraged Chinese counterparts to develop and launch competing alternatives. After Baidu unveiled its Ernie Bot on March 16, Kai-Fu Lee, former head of Google China, told China Daily that he planned to develop the Chinese version of ChatGPT, Project AI 2.0. In addition, Alibaba, iFlytek, NetEase, and Tencent plan to invest in and develop ChatGPT-like products.
China Daily quoted Lee saying that Chinese platforms have great opportunities despite not being as technologically advanced as the US.
In an earlier report, Nikkei Asia quoted people with direct knowledge of the matter saying that Chinese internet giants were instructed not to offer access to ChatGPT services on their platforms. With China's censorship regime in place, ChatGPT may not be available in China for the foreseeable future.
