Kai-Fu Lee, a technology pioneer, strives to introduce China to its own ChatGPT breakthrough

01.AI, the Beijing startup founded by technology pioneer Kai-Fu Lee, is making waves in the artificial intelligence space with the launch of its first consumer-facing AI application, Wanzhi. This move is seen as a strategic step to help China capitalize on the promising technology.

Wanzhi, a free productivity assistant, is designed to help users create spreadsheets, documents, and slide presentations more efficiently, with a focus on the Chinese market. The app can interpret financial reports, take meeting minutes, and even speed-read lengthy books like Elon Musk’s biography to provide quick summaries. It works in both Chinese and English, catering to a wide range of users.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Lee emphasized the need for China to have its own ChatGPT, similar to OpenAI’s chatbot that was released in 2022 but is banned in the country. While US firms have taken the lead in generative AI, Chinese players like 01.AI, Baidu, and ByteDance are aggressively investing in developing their own AI models and chatbot services.

Lee, who became CEO of 01.AI last year, has steered the startup to unicorn status within eight months, thanks to its innovative AI model that outperformed Silicon Valley rivals. The company is also introducing a proprietary large language model called Yi-Large for enterprise users, offering competitive pricing for software developers.

With plans to expand globally and boost revenue next year, 01.AI is positioning itself as a key player in the AI market. Lee’s focus on affordability and efficiency sets the company apart from competitors, ensuring its relevance in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.