Alibaba announces ChatGPT like generative AI model for all its apps

Alibaba Group Holding has revealed its generative AI model, Tongyi Qianwen, and announced its integration into all of the company's apps in the near future. 

The Chinese internet giant demonstrated the AI's capabilities in a filmed demonstration, where it drafted invitation letters, planned trip itineraries, and advised shoppers on makeup choices. The AI model will first be integrated into DingTalk, Alibaba's workplace messaging app, and Tmall Genie, Alibaba's voice assistant. The technology will be used to summarise meeting notes, write emails and draft business proposals. Alibaba's cloud unit also plans to open up Tongyi Qianwen to clients to build their customised large language models.

Alibaba's CEO Daniel Zhang stated in a livestreamed event that AI models like Tongyi Qianwen are the "big picture" for making AI more popular in the future. He added that Alibaba and other companies working on AI models were at the "starting line" of a new phenomenon. "Seizing this opportunity is a common wish for all of us," Zhang said.

The release of ChatGPT by Microsoft-backed OpenAI late last year has caused a surge in global interest in generative AI. A number of Chinese companies have also revealed or teased AI models and chatbots, including search giant Baidu with its Ernie Bot chatbot and Chinese AI company SenseTime with its chatbot, SenseChat.

Shares in Alibaba rose 1.5 per cent in Hong Kong trade while the broader market was flat. Meanwhile, shares in SenseTime initially surged but later fell 2.7 per cent.