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Chinese AI chatbots want to be your emotional support

Sep 06, 2023 - technologyreview.com
Chinese tech company Baidu has launched its large language model, Ernie Bot, to the public, following regulatory approval from the Chinese government. The Ernie Bot mobile app reached 1 million users in the 19 hours following its launch, and the model responded to over 33.42 million user questions in 24 hours. Four more Chinese companies have also made their LLM chatbot products available, but some more experienced players, like Alibaba and iFlytek, are still waiting for clearance.

Ernie Bot offers a range of features designed to engage new users, including prompt suggestions and pre-selected topics. The app also includes a tab for user-generated content and introduces role-playing. However, the author notes that the challenge for Chinese AI companies is to earn users and keep them interested, particularly as the novelty of chatbots wears off. The author also highlights the potential risks if companies succeed in creating AI that users form deep emotional connections with.

Key takeaways:

  • Baidu's large language model, Ernie Bot, has been made available to the general public, reaching 1 million users in the 19 hours following the announcement.
  • Ernie Bot has features designed to engage users, including prompt suggestions, pre-selected topics, and user-generated content.
  • One of the top categories on the app is role-playing, with pre-trained personas including historical figures, celebrities, and imaginary romantic partners.
  • Chinese AI companies are focusing on emotional-support AI, with Baidu positioning Ernie Bot for similar use. This raises questions about the implications of humans forming deep emotional connections with AI.
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