OpenAI flags Beijing-backed Zhipu AI as a top rival
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Openai puts a spotlight in China’s under-radar artificial intelligence attempt, which he believes in the “front of the world in AI” on the front “, and is not Deepseek.
One Blog post The company wrote on Wednesday that Beijing -backed Zhipu AI made “remarkable progress” as global competition increases in the AI race.
Established in 2019, Zhipu AI was called by the domestic media as one of the “Ai Tigers” of China – the large language model, which is seen as the key to Beijing’s efforts to compete on the United States and to reduce its dependence on American technology.
“Ai Tiger” Deepseek, after releasing the R1 model in January, while the lion’s international interest, Openai, Zhipu’s expansion outside China and the bonds with Beijing argues that he deserves more examination.
According to State Media, the initiative gathered funds from several local government. Openai, “Zhipu AI leadership, including the leading Li Qiang, including CCP officials often interact.” He said.
Zhipu ai reported It has offices in the Middle East, the United Kingdom, Singapore and Malaysia, and also conducts common “innovation centers” projects in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia and Vietnam.
These factors could see that Zhipu AI plays an important role in China’s “Digital Silk Road” strategy, because AI infrastructure solutions to the world governments.
“The aim is to lock Chinese systems and standards to developing markets for us or European competitors and exhibit ‘responsible, transparent and ready for supervision’ alternative.” He said.
Zhipu AI did not immediately respond to Openai’s statements about his statements. However, last week, Zhipu AI President Liu Debing Given to journalists that the company hopes to contribute to China’s artificial intelligence power to the world.
These purposes represent a threat for Openai, who received the support of Washington’s basic models as the world’s go-to-AI offer.
During his visit to the UAE in May, US President Donald Trump announced more than $ 200 billion in the region, including one to build Stargate UAE AI campus by Openai, Oracle. Nvidia And Cisco Systems. It is expected to start in 2026.
The Stargate project is a private sector investment vehicle of $ 500 billion -oriented in January by Openai in cooperation with Abu Dhabi Investment Company MGX and Japan’s Softbank in January.
This month, Openai signed and announced a $ 200 million contract to provide artificial intelligence vehicles to the US Department of Defense “Openai for the government“An initiative to bring AI vehicles to public officials throughout the USA
It is said that Zhipu also worked with the local army and helps China’s army to modernize through advanced artificial intelligence. to add The US Department of Commerce in January.
There is a company reported He launched preliminary steps to start the first public offering. Previously, 20 billion Yuan (2.78 billion dollars) was valued. Local Media Reports.
