Microsoft maintains AI services in Hong Kong, as OpenAI curbs API access from China

An API is software that allows two computer programs to communicate with each other.

OpenAI’s services, which have been introduced in over 188 countries and regions, are officially unavailable in mainland China and Hong Kong, where users often access popular models such as ChatGPT through virtual private networks or third-party apps, while developers turn to proxies and outbound servers to bypass restrictions.

The San Francisco-based start-up did not elaborate on the reasons behind its latest move, which comes as the US government is ramping up efforts to cut off China’s access to advanced AI technology, citing national security concerns.

Microsoft, which does not offer generative AI services in mainland China, launched enterprise support for OpenAI models in Hong Kong in March last year, allowing developers to apply for access to a range of systems including GPT-3.5, ChatGPT, Codex and DALL-E 2.

Beijing-based Zhipu AI, considered one of the country’s top OpenAI alternatives, announced a “special house-moving plan” to help China-based OpenAI users “easily switch to home-grown [LLMs]”, according to a post published on its WeChat account.

Other start-ups such as Baichuan and 01.ai, as well as Big Tech companies like Alibaba Group Holding and Baidu, are also dangling perks ranging from steep discounts to freebies to draw developers affected by OpenAI’s new measures.

Alibaba owns the Post.