Latest news with #ZhipuAI
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
DeepSeek faces expulsion from app stores in Germany
FRANKFURT: Germany has taken steps towards blocking Chinese AI startup DeepSeek from the Apple and Google app stores due to concerns about data protection, according to a data protection authority commissioner in a statement on Friday. DeepSeek has been reported to the two U.S. tech giants as illegal content, said commissioner Meike Kamp, and the companies must now review the concerns and decide whether to block the app in Germany. 'DeepSeek has not been able to provide my agency with convincing evidence that German users' data is protected in China to a level equivalent to that in the European Union,' she said. OpenAI says China's Zhipu AI gaining ground amid Beijing's global AI push 'Chinese authorities have far-reaching access rights to personal data within the sphere of influence of Chinese companies,' she added. The move comes after Reuters exclusively reported this week that DeepSeek is aiding China's military and intelligence operations. DeepSeek, which shook the technology world in January with claims that it had developed an AI model that rivaled those from U.S. firms such as ChatGPT creator OpenAI at much lower cost, says it stores numerous personal data, such as requests to the AI or uploaded files, on computers in China.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Sam Altman-led OpenAI has a problem with this China's ‘AI tigers' company; says ‘The goal is to…'
OpenAI has raised concerns about Chinese artificial intelligence firm Zhipu AI, calling it a major player in China's bid to dominate the global AI market. In a blog post published Wednesday (June 25), the company said Zhipu AI has made 'notable progress' and is on the 'front line' of Beijing's push to expand its AI influence. Founded in 2019, Zhipu AI has been described by Chinese media as one of the country's 'AI tigers' — a group of high-growth large language model companies seen as key to China's strategy to reduce reliance on US technology. OpenAI highlights Zhipu AI's Beijing links and overseas activity According to OpenAI, Zhipu AI has received over $1.4 billion in backing from various state-linked sources and maintains close ties with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The company's leadership 'frequently engages with CCP officials, including Premier Li Qiang,' the blog post said. The ChatGPT-maker highlighted that Zhipu is also expanding globally, with offices in the UK, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Middle East, and joint innovation centers in countries like Indonesia and Vietnam. OpenAI warned that Zhipu's efforts align with China's 'Digital Silk Road' strategy, which aims to embed Chinese AI systems and standards into emerging markets. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like How to Find Industrial Equipment Providers in Belgium (Learn More) Equipment Manufacturers | Search Ads Undo 'In practice, this means: forming an alliance that co-builds national LLMs with ASEAN and other Belt and Road capitals; opening joint innovation centers; embedding safety labs such as the new Dubai Content-Safety Lab (corroborated by CN sources); and, underwriting projects with Gulf capital (the Saudi Prosperity7 Aramco fund participated in a USD $400M round) and Huawei Ascend hardware, albeit not at Stargate-level scale,' the company highlighted. 'The goal is to lock Chinese systems and standards into emerging markets before US or European rivals can, while showcasing a 'responsible, transparent and audit-ready' Chinese AI alternative,' OpenAI said. Zhipu AI has not responded to OpenAI's latest remarks. However, company chairman Liu Debing said last week that Zhipu hopes to 'contribute China's AI power to the world.' Zhipu has also been linked to China's military modernization efforts. This led to its inclusion on the US Commerce Department's Entity List in January. The firm is reportedly preparing for an initial public offering and was last valued at around $2.78 billion. Meanwhile, OpenAI has been expanding its own presence. It recently secured a $200 million contract with the US Defense Department and announced an 'OpenAI for Government' program aimed at US public sector use. It also plans to build an AI-focused facility in the UAE under the $500 billion Stargate Project, backed by Abu Dhabi's MGX and Japan's SoftBank. Skullcandy Dime Evo: 5 Features That Make It Stand Out! AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
OpenAI says China's Zhipu AI gaining ground amid Beijing's global AI push
OpenAI said on Wednesday its analysts have seen notable progress by Chinese start-up Zhipu AI in securing government contracts across several regions, signaling China's growing momentum in pursuing global AI leadership . Zhipu AI, which is backed by the Chinese Communist Party, aims to "lock Chinese systems and standards into emerging markets before US or European rivals can, while showcasing a 'responsible, transparent and audit-ready' Chinese AI alternative," the ChatGPT maker said in its post. The company provides AI solutions - including sovereign large language model infrastructure and private hardware in partnership with Huawei - to governments and state-owned enterprises in Malaysia, Singapore, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kenya. The initiative forms part of China's broader effort to build a self-sufficient, globally competitive AI ecosystem that rivals the United States while reducing reliance on American technology. Zhipu AI, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment, is supported by more than $1.4 billion in state investment and maintains strong ties with the Chinese government and state-owned entities, according to OpenAI. In January, the company was added to the US Commerce Department's export control entity list, barring it from procuring U.S. components. Zhipu AI has been positioning itself among China's leading AI firms alongside DeepSeek, Moonshot AI, and Minimax, as well as tech giants ByteDance and Alibaba. OpenAI has also built partnerships and attracted investment across the Middle East and Asia. Its "OpenAI for Countries" initiative helps interested governments develop "sovereign AI capability" in coordination with the U.S. government. The report comes as the US and China engage in intense competition in the rapidly evolving AI landscape, with both nations vying for technological dominance.
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
OpenAI says Zhipu AI accelerates China's global efforts to challenge US tech dominance
OpenAI said its analysts found that Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) start-up Zhipu AI had made 'notable progress' in providing infrastructure solutions to governments and state-owned firms in non-Western markets, as Beijing seeks to strengthen its global leadership in the rapidly evolving technology. In a post on Wednesday, the ChatGPT maker, which has previously urged Washington to support US companies in their competition with Chinese rivals, said Zhipu represented 'China's answer' to OpenAI's international initiative. The blog cited a South China Morning Post report from last month detailing Zhipu's plans to expand its business overseas, leveraging the Belt and Road Initiative. Zhipu represented the nation's 'hopes of building a self-reliant, globally competitive AI ecosystem that rivals America's and lessens dependence on American tech', OpenAI said. 'The goal is to lock Chinese systems and standards into emerging markets before US or European rivals can, while showcasing a 'responsible, transparent and audit-ready' Chinese AI alternative.' Zhipu did not immediately reply to a request for comment on Thursday.
CNBC
2 days ago
- Business
- CNBC
Blacklisted by the U.S. and backed by Beijing, this Chinese AI startup has caught OpenAI's attention
OpenAI is putting a spotlight on an under-the-radar artificial intelligence startup that it believes is on the "front line" of China's race to lead the world in AI — and its not DeepSeek. In a blog post on Wednesday, the company wrote that Beijing-backed Zhipu AI has made "notable progress" in the AI race, as global competition ramps up. Zhipu AI, founded in 2019, has been referred by domestic media as one of China's "AI tigers" — a class of large language model unicorns seen as key to Beijing's efforts to rival the U.S. and reduce its dependence on American technology. While fellow "AI tiger" DeepSeek has received the lion's share of international attention after it released its R1 model in January, OpenAI suggests that Zhipu's expansion outside China and its ties to Beijing deserve more attention. The startup has raised funds from several local governments, according to state media. "Zhipu AI leadership frequently engages with CCP officials, including Premier Li Qiang," OpenAI claimed, pegging the value of state-backed investments in the startup at over $1.4 billion. Zhipu AI reportedly has offices in the Middle East, the United Kingdom, Singapore and Malaysia, and is also running joint "innovation centers" projects across Southeast Asia, including in Indonesia and Vietnam. Those factors could see Zhipu AI playing a key role in China's "Digital Silk Road" strategy, as it offers AI infrastructure solutions to governments around the world. "The goal is to lock Chinese systems and standards into emerging markets before US or European rivals can, while showcasing a 'responsible, transparent and audit-ready' Chinese AI alternative," OpenAI said. Zhipu AI did not immediately respond to a request for comment on OpenAI's statements. However, last week, Zhipu AI Chairman Liu Debing told reporters that the company hoped to contribute China's AI power to the world. These aims represent a threat to OpenAI, which has received Washington's support to promote its foundational models as the world's go-to AI offering. During a visit to the UAE in May, U.S. President Donald Trump announced over $200 billion in commercial deals in the region, including one for building a Stargate UAE AI campus by OpenAI, Oracle, Nvidia and Cisco Systems. It's expected to be launched in 2026. The Stargate Project is a $500 billion AI-focused private sector investment vehicle, announced by OpenAI in January in partnership with Abu Dhabi investment firm MGX and Japan's SoftBank. This month, OpenAI was also awarded a $200 million contract to provide the U.S. Defense Department with artificial intelligence tools, and announced "OpenAI for Government," an initiative aimed at bringing its AI tools to public servants across the U.S. Zhipu is also said to be working with its domestic military, helping China's military to modernize through advanced artificial intelligence, which saw it added to the US Commerce Department's Entity List in January. The company has reportedly initiated preliminary steps toward launching an initial public offering. It has previously been valued at 20 billion yuan ($2.78 billion), according to local media reports.
