Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) firm Baidu is under scrutiny for potential US sanctions following allegations that researchers in China used its Ernie chatbot in collaboration with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on military technology. Baidu denies any involvement in the research or authorization of its technology’s use for military purposes. The company asserts that Ernie, like other language models, was publicly available and used in various research, including collaboration with the PLA. While no official sanctions have been announced, defense analysts predict possible US controls against Baidu, similar to those imposed on Huawei in 2019. Baidu’s stock has already dropped by 12%, reflecting concerns about potential repercussions. The situation raises questions about sanctioning private companies for actions beyond their control and the potential impact on the global development of public-facing large language models. (Source: Cointelegraph)
