IFlytek explained

iFlytek
Native Name:科大讯飞
Native Name Lang:zh
Type:Public
State-owned enterprise
Industry:Information technology
Founder:Liu Qingfeng
Location City:Hefei, Anhui
Location Country:China
Area Served:speech synthesis, speech recognition and natural language processing
Owner:China Mobile

iFlytek, styled as iFLYTEK, is a partially state-owned Chinese information technology company established in 1999.[1] It creates voice recognition software and 10+ voice-based internet/mobile products covering education, communication, music, intelligent toys industries.[2] State-owned enterprise China Mobile is the company's largest shareholder.[3] The company is listed in the Shenzhen Stock Exchange and it is backed by several state-owned investment funds.[4] [5]

The company was spun off from University of Science and Technology of China.[6] The city of Hefei is a major investor in iFlytek. The company has faced accusations from human rights groups and the United States government of involvement in mass surveillance.[7]

History

Liu Qingfeng, who was then a Ph.D. student in the University of Science and Technology of China, started a voice computing company, iFlytek in 1999. Liu and his colleagues were operating the company at the USTC campus until they decided to moved it in Heifei. He also presented his business concept to then head of Microsoft Research Asia, Kai-Fu Lee, who warned Liu of competing to American advancements in speech recognition.[8]

iFlytek would later work under the telecommunications company Huawei. In 2008, the company went public. In 2010, they launch their major consumer product, the iFlytek Input.

In 2017, Human Rights Watch reported the Chinese government had collected tens of thousands of voice samples, for use with iFlytek technology that identifies individuals by voice on phone calls or in public places.[9]

In 2018, iFlytek signed a five-year collaboration agreement with the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory.[10] In 2020, the agreement was terminated due to concerns about human rights abuses of Uyghurs in Xinjiang.[11]

China's government designated iFlytek as one of its "AI champions" in 2018.[12]

In October 2023, the stock value of iFlytek fell after its AI-powered devices were reported to have criticized Mao Zedong.[13]

In 2019, the company won the Applicative Award for its iFlytek translation system with the Super AI Leader award at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference held in Shanghai.[14]

In 2024, iFLYTEK introduced the AI platform SparkGen, an automated video creation tool.[15]

Products and services

Voice speech and recognition systems

One of the company's major product was the iFlytek Input released in 2010. It was one of the early counterparts of Apple's Siri, Microsoft's Cortana, and Google Assistant in China. Later versions of Input allowed translations for face-to-face conversations and closed-captioning for phone calls in 23 Chinese dialects.

In terms of research and development in speech recognition, iFlytek showcased during a 2017 visit of U.S. President Donald Trump to Beijing, that their technology can identify and record an individual's voice in a crowded environment.[16]

iFlytek Spark

iFlytek Spark, also known as iFLYTEK Spark Desk,[17] is a large language model developed by iFlytek. iFlytek Spark was first unveiled in May 2023 and was released in September 2023 after Chinese government's approval.[18] [19]

History

On May 6, 2023, iFlytek CEO Liu Qingfeng unveiled their AI model SparkDesk. The large language model was developed based on Huawei's AI chip, Ascend.[20] It was then updated to SparkDesk 2.0 in August 2023 and SparkDesk 3.0 in October 2023.[21]

AI devices powered by Spark AI received backlash in October 2023 after photos were shared in Baidu's Baijiahao of the generative AI criticizing Chairman Mao Zedong. As a result, the company's shares plunged by 10 percent.

In January 2024, iFlytek upgraded their model to iFlytek SparkDesk 3.5.[22] On 15 August 2024, iFlyTek introduced Spark 4.0, which the company benchmarked against OpenAI's GPT-4 Turbo.[23]

Partnerships

iFlytek has partnerships with Japanese company Odelic, Malaysian company Simon, and U.S. company A.O. Smith. iFlytek also managed to build servers in Singapore, Dubai, and Frankfurt, Germany.[24]

Reception

Chinese regulations

In 2021, iFlytek, along with Chinese gaming company Tencent Holdings, received a notice for violation from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China (MIIT) for not rectifiying privacy concerns.[25]

U.S. sanctions

See also: Persecution of Uyghurs in China and Xinjiang internment camps. In October 2019, iFlytek was sanctioned by the United States for allegedly using its technology for mass surveillance and human rights abuses in Xinjiang.[26] [27]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: iFlytek Announces All New Voice Cloud and Siri-like Product . Ben Chiang . 23 March 2012 . 2012-08-24 . TechNode . https://web.archive.org/web/20121201072114/http://technode.com/2012/03/23/iflytek-announces-all-new-voice-cloud-and-siri-like-product/ . 1 December 2012 . live . Note: byline reads "Ben Jiang", but author webpage URL lists last name as "Chiang".
  2. Hvistendahl. Mara. May 18, 2020. How a Chinese AI Giant Made Chatting—and Surveillance—Easy. Wired. live. May 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200518191755/https://www.wired.com/story/iflytek-china-ai-giant-voice-chatting-surveillance/. May 18, 2020.
  3. News: Risky partner: Top U.S. universities took funds from Chinese firm tied to Xinjiang security. Harney. Alexandra. June 13, 2019. November 9, 2019. Reuters. https://web.archive.org/web/20191109062644/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-xinjiang-mit-tech-insight/risky-partner-top-u-s-universities-took-funds-from-chinese-firm-tied-to-xinjiang-security-idUSKCN1TE04M. November 9, 2019. live.
  4. Web site: China Mobile to Acquire 15% of Voice-Recognition Company . https://archive.today/20130118143350/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-08-23/china-mobile-to-acquire-15-percent-of-voice-recognition-company . dead . 2013-01-18 . Mark Lee . 2012-08-24 . 2012-08-24 . . .
  5. News: China's voice recognition champion iFlytek gets US$407 million funding boost from state investors. Dai. Sarah. July 17, 2019. South China Morning Post. November 9, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191109064156/https://www.scmp.com/tech/enterprises/article/3018923/chinas-voice-recognition-champion-iflytek-gets-us407-million. November 9, 2019. live.
  6. Book: Hu, Richard . Reinventing the Chinese City . 2023 . . 978-0-231-21101-7 . New York . 10.7312/hu--21100.
  7. News: Inskeep . Steve . Steve Inskeep . May 30, 2024 . AI companies in China aim for innovation despite U.S. restrictions on access to parts . May 30, 2024 . . May 30, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240530125201/https://www.npr.org/2024/05/30/nx-s1-4943382/ai-companies-in-china-aim-for-innovation-despite-u-s-restrictions-on-access-to-parts . live .
  8. Hvistendahl . Mara . May 18, 2020 . How a Chinese AI Giant Made Chatting—and Surveillance—Easy . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200518191755/https://www.wired.com/story/iflytek-china-ai-giant-voice-chatting-surveillance/ . 2020-05-18 . 2024-03-13 . . en-US . 1059-1028.
  9. Web site: 2017-10-22 . China: Voice Biometric Collection Threatens Privacy . 2023-08-30 . . en . 2021-07-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210720111332/https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/10/22/china-voice-biometric-collection-threatens-privacy . live .
  10. News: Conner-Simons . Adam . June 15, 2018 . CSAIL launches new five-year collaboration with iFlyTek . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190928083305/http://news.mit.edu/2018/csail-launches-five-year-collaboration-with-iflytek-0615 . September 28, 2019 . November 9, 2019 . MIT News.
  11. Knight . Will . 2020-04-21 . MIT Cuts Ties With a Chinese AI Firm Amid Human Rights Concerns . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200421191904/https://www.wired.com/story/mit-cuts-ties-chinese-ai-firm-human-rights/ . 2020-04-21 . 2020-04-22 . . en . 1059-1028.
  12. Book: Zhang, Angela Huyue . High Wire: How China Regulates Big Tech and Governs Its Economy . . 2024 . 9780197682258 . 10.1093/oso/9780197682258.001.0001.
  13. News: Ye . Josh . October 24, 2023 . Shares in China's iFlyTek tumble after reports AI-powered device criticised Mao . January 9, 2024 . . December 1, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231201175418/https://www.reuters.com/technology/shares-chinas-iflytek-tumble-after-reports-ai-powered-device-criticised-mao-2023-10-24/ . live .
  14. Web site: Top AI awards presented at World AI Conference . https://web.archive.org/web/20230401222055/http://english.scio.gov.cn/chinavoices/2019-08/30/content_75154165.htm . 2023-04-01 . 2024-03-13 . . en.
  15. Web site: en. iFLYTEK Unveils AI SparkGen platform at MWC 2024. Martechvibe. March 2024 . 2024-03-13. 2024-03-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20240313202616/https://martechvibe.com/article/iflytek-unveils-ai-spark-gen-platform/.
  16. News: Mozur . Paul . Bradsher . Keith . 2017-12-03 . China's A.I. Advances Help Its Tech Industry, and State Security . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240308084402/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/03/business/china-artificial-intelligence.html . 2024-03-08 . 2024-03-28 . . en-US . 0362-4331.
  17. Web site: iFLYTEK Highlights Progress Towards a New AI Ecosystem at the 1024 Global Developer Festival-News-iFLYTEK . 2024-03-13 . www.iflytek.com . 2024-03-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240313063447/https://www.iflytek.com/en/news-events/news/43.html . live .
  18. Web site: 2023-10-24 . iFlytek says its LLM outperforms ChatGPT model in Chinese . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240311233752/https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3239031/iflytek-says-its-large-language-model-outperforms-chatgpt-chinese-ai-firm-vows-counter-us-chip-curbs . 2024-03-11 . 2024-03-11 . . en.
  19. Web site: Ye . Josh . September 5, 2023 . China's 360 and iFlytek release AI models to public . March 12, 2024 . . September 28, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230928093019/https://www.reuters.com/technology/chinas-360-open-ai-model-public-state-media-2023-09-05/ . live .
  20. Web site: Feed . TechNode . 2023-05-08 . iFlytek unveils large language model, claims it outperforms ChatGPT · TechNode . 2024-03-14 . TechNode . en-US . 2024-03-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240314021241/https://technode.com/2023/05/08/iflytek-unveils-large-language-model-claims-it-outperforms-chatgpt/ . live .
  21. Web site: Feed . TechNode . 2023-08-16 . iFlytek unveils updated LLM SparkDesk V2.0 and new product iFlyCode 1.0 · TechNode . 2024-03-14 . TechNode . en-US . 2024-03-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240314021056/https://technode.com/2023/08/16/iflytek-unveils-updated-llm-sparkdesk-v2-0-and-new-product-iflycode-1-0/ . live .
  22. Web site: Feed . TechNode . 2024-01-31 . iFlytek claims the latest version of its AI model is as powerful as GPT-4 Turbo on certain metrics · TechNode . 2024-03-13 . TechNode . en-US . 2024-03-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240313021001/https://technode.com/2024/01/31/iflytek-claims-the-latest-version-of-its-ai-model-is-as-powerful-as-gpt-4-turbo-on-certain-metrics/ . live .
  23. Web site: Dong . Cheyenne . 2024-06-28 . iFlytek Chairman touts latest AI Spark 4.0 model as comparable to GPT-4 Turbo, emphasizes total self-sufficiency · TechNode . 2024-08-18 . TechNode . en-US.
  24. Web site: China AI champion iFlytek looks abroad despite U.S. crackdown . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240326153600/https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/China-tech/China-AI-champion-iFlytek-looks-abroad-despite-U.S.-crackdown . 2024-03-26 . 2024-03-27 . . en-GB.
  25. Web site: 2021-03-15 . Beijing calls out iFlyTek, Tencent and over 100 others on data privacy . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240328071035/https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3125489/data-privacy-beijing-puts-iflytek-tencent-and-over-100-other-app-makers . 2024-03-28 . 2024-03-28 . . en.
  26. News: US sanctions 8 China tech companies over role in Xinjiang abuses. October 8, 2019. The Nikkei. November 9, 2019. Reuters. https://web.archive.org/web/20191109032331/https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Trade-war/US-sanctions-8-China-tech-companies-over-role-in-Xinjiang-abuses. November 9, 2019. live.
  27. News: Strumpf . Dan . Kubota . Yoko . October 8, 2019 . Expanded U.S. Trade Blacklist Hits Beijing's Artificial-Intelligence Ambitions . subscription . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20191108234117/https://www.wsj.com/articles/expanded-u-s-trade-blacklist-hits-beijings-artificial-intelligence-ambitions-11570541277 . November 8, 2019 . November 9, 2019 . The Wall Street Journal.

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