Baidu’s Ernie Bot, a generative AI service, has made a resounding debut in China, garnering tremendous attention and downloads. However, it’s not all smooth sailing for this innovative technology.
Ernie Bot’s public debut was met with an overwhelming response, with over 313,610 downloads on Apple’s Chinese iOS store and a staggering 2.4 million downloads across various Android app stores on its first day of launch. Users flocked to test the capabilities of this AI service, resulting in a flood of questions, a staggering 33 million within the first 24 hours.
The Chinese government recently lifted restrictions on several generative AI services, including Ernie Bot, as part of its efforts to regulate the technology. Other approved services include AI specialist SenseTime, Baichuan, founded by Sogou’s Wang Xiaochuan, and state-backed Zhipu AI.
Ernie Bot’s instant popularity was undeniable, but it faced difficulties in responding to specific queries and occasionally provided answers that left users dissatisfied. Screenshots of conversations with the AI chatbot revealed instances where it either failed to respond or delivered biased answers.
One notable example was when users asked which of the founders of Baidu, Alibaba Group Holding, and Tencent Holdings could be considered “capitalist.” Ernie Bot pointed to the founders of Alibaba and Tencent but conspicuously excluded Baidu’s founder, Robin Li. This raised eyebrows, especially given the similar business practices of all three tech giants.
In another test, Ernie Bot struggled to answer the same question, generating a lengthy Wikipedia-style profile of the three businessmen and essentially avoiding a direct response, even when explicitly instructed to reply with a simple “yes” or “no.”
Despite these hiccups, Ernie Bot’s rapid adoption and the sheer volume of questions it received underline the curiosity and eagerness of Chinese users to explore generative AI services. The 33 million questions it fielded on its debut day attest to the immense interest in this technology.
The technology’s approval by the Chinese government is a significant step forward, following the enactment of comprehensive regulations on generative AI just two weeks prior. Ernie Bot, along with other approved services, is now poised to shape the future of AI interactions in China.
However, the challenges it faced in providing accurate and impartial responses highlight the complexities involved in developing AI systems that can navigate sensitive or politically charged topics. As China continues to embrace generative AI, striking the right balance between innovation and responsible AI use will be an ongoing concern.
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(via)
