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For individuals in Western countries, engaging with Chinese AI models can often seem daunting due to language constraints and the need for local registration. Moreover, without a valid Chinese phone number, navigating these services can often feel like a convoluted process.
However, many of these chatbots are equipped to handle conversations in English and are relatively straightforward to access. Whether one is simply curious about their capabilities or seeks to conduct serious evaluations for professional purposes, numerous options are available for experiencing Chinese language model-powered chatbots.
Here are some steps for anyone interested in trying them out quickly.
If You Have a Chinese Phone Number
If you possess a Chinese phone number, accessing the models we discuss poses minimal challenges. A domestic phone number in China often serves as a key for identity verification; thus, with it, you can essentially access a wide range of online services, including AI chatbots. Simply visit the website of your desired model and use your phone number to create an account.
Our investigations revealed that while some LLMs are available to international users, several major platforms, particularly those created by Huawei, the cybersecurity company 360, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, restrict access to those with Chinese phone numbers. Unfortunately, acquiring a local number from outside China can be extremely difficult. Luckily, alternatives exist.
Options Without a Chinese Phone Number
A limited selection of Chinese AI platforms provide opportunities for non-Chinese users to directly engage with their chatbots. For these services, you simply sign up, provide your phone number, and enter the verification code sent via text.
Notably, Doubao, developed by ByteDance, is an AI tool that excels at generating both text and images, capable of internet searches and summarizing uploaded documents. Another option, ChatGLM, created by burgeoning Chinese AI company Zhipu, offers a comparable suite of functionalities and welcomes users with non-Chinese phone numbers.
Additionally, DeepSeek, a relatively new player in the AI landscape, is recognized for its affordability. While free for casual users, it charges only $0.14 per million tokens for business usage—significantly less than OpenAI’s GPT-4 Turbo, which costs $10 per million tokens. Users can conveniently explore both its text and coding chatbots on the website by registering with an email address.
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www.technologyreview.com