The decline in the growth rate of ChatGPT visits has caused concerns, and experts warn against the risk of bubbles

Reporter Wang Lixin

Trainee reporter Kou Jiali

Image source: Generated by Unbounded AI

Recently, a set of data has sparked concerns and discussions about the risk of bubbles in the AI industry. Statistics from Similarweb, a network analysis company, show that in the first five months of 2023, ChatGPT’s global visits increased by 131.6%, 62.5%, 55.8%, 12.6%, and 2.8% month-on-month, respectively, and the growth rate dropped significantly; ChatGPT’s visits in June It fell 9.7 percent, the first time since its launch.

Since the beginning of this year, artificial intelligence, especially artificial general intelligence (AGI), has shown great vitality in the Chinese market. Wind data shows that in the first half of the year, the A-share ChatGPT index rose by 71.77%, and the scale of capital inflow is very considerable. According to the reporter's review, as of July 4, there are more than 80 domestic AI large models with a parameter scale of more than 1 billion. But it is also worth noting that the risk of industrial bubbles has emerged to a certain extent.

Angel investor and senior artificial intelligence expert Guo Tao told reporters: "Currently, China's AGI market has entered the era of 'a hundred schools of thought contend', but at the same time there have been bubbles, such as inflated valuations of start-ups, and recent frequent reductions in major shareholders of listed companies. Cash out, etc., the industry must be alert to related risks.”

Zhang Xiaorong, president of Deepin Technology Research Institute, also believes that the overall maturity of general artificial intelligence technology is not enough, the technology is difficult to implement, and there are many challenges in the application process. Optimistic market expectations lead people to be overly optimistic about the potential of the industry and the industry is overvalued. Once the technology cannot be effectively implemented and market expectations cannot be realized, the bubble may burst.

"Currently, the domestic AGI industry is showing signs of overheating." Huang Song, an expert on the AI algorithm of the platform, said, "The models launched by some companies are far from the real big models in terms of the number of parameters and the actual effect. Far, 'pseudo-general artificial intelligence' has emerged."

The interviewed experts all believe that moderate bubble formation is conducive to the development of the industry and can help companies attract more funds and pool more resources, but once there is an overheating trend, it needs to be resolved and guided.

"Enterprises must find their own positioning. There are many types of general artificial intelligence, so it is not necessary to build a large model, and other subdivisions also have good prospects." Huang Song believes.

Zhang Xiaorong said that the development of China's AGI industry needs to deal with five major issues, including supervision and regulation, technological innovation and application, industrial cooperation, market transparency and investor education. "Establish an effective industrial supervision system, standardize market behavior, and prevent investment hype; focus on solving practical problems, improve industrial efficiency, and explore the commercial feasibility and actual value of technology; promote cooperation and exchanges between enterprises, and maintain and strengthen the principles of fair competition. Large market environment; increase the intensity of information disclosure, cultivate and educate investors on risk awareness, and improve people’s ability to invest rationally.”