OpenAI's AI models remain available via Microsoft Azure even after OpenAI restricts access from China
OpenAI blocked access from China on July 9, 2024. However, OpenAI's AI models remain available from China via Microsoft's cloud computing service 'Azure.'
OpenAI's China Ban Doesn't Apply to Microsoft's Azure China — The Information
Microsoft Azure China offers Chinese businesses a loophole to OpenAI's departure | Tom's Hardware
https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/microsoft-azure-china-offers-chinese-businesses-a-loophole-to-openais-departure
Although China is not included in OpenAI's supported regions , access itself was not blocked, and Chinese users continued to be able to use OpenAI's API. However, in June 2024, a notice was sent to Chinese users stating that 'access to the API will be blocked on July 9, 2024.'
OpenAI announces that it will indefinitely block access from unsupported countries such as Russia, China, and North Korea - GIGAZINE
It was thought that OpenAI's blocking of API access from China would make it difficult for Chinese users to use OpenAI's services, but it has become clear that OpenAI's AI models can still be used via Microsoft's cloud computing service 'Azure' even after the block by OpenAI.
Microsoft continues to invest heavily in OpenAI and has a deep cooperative relationship with the company, developing the AI assistant 'Copilot' that utilizes OpenAI's AI technology. Microsoft also provides the ' Azure OpenAI Service ' that allows users to use OpenAI and Meta AI models on Azure.
Microsoft is working with Chinese company 21Vianet to develop Azure services in China. Azure deployed in China has a different infrastructure configuration from Azure deployed globally, but it is possible to use OpenAI's AI models in the Chinese version of Azure. This 'provision of OpenAI's AI models in the Chinese version of Azure' is not blocked, so OpenAI's AI models can be used in China by going through Azure.
It has also been reported that when OpenAI notified Chinese users of the block, Microsoft's Chinese subsidiary urged them to 'migrate to Azure' through its official WeChat account.
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