Chinese PLA Develops ChatBIT AI Tool Using Meta's Llama 2 Model (13B params) Amid U.S. Concerns

Nov 1, 2024, 06:07 PM

Chinese researchers affiliated with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) have developed an AI tool named ChatBIT, utilizing Meta's open-source Llama model for military applications. This development has sparked significant concern in Washington regarding the use of U.S. technologies to enhance China's military and intelligence capabilities. Critics argue that if China were truly advanced in artificial intelligence, it would not need to rely on models from U.S. companies like Meta. The bipartisan ENFORCE Act, proposed by Congressman Michael McCaul, aims to prevent American AI technologies from being exploited by the Chinese Communist Party. The Llama model, specifically the Llama 2 version with 13 billion parameters, has been highlighted in discussions about the implications of open-source AI in military contexts. Despite the controversy, some analysts suggest that the use of such models by China is not surprising and reflects a broader trend of dual-use technologies being accessible to various nations.