When asked who won the recent presidential election in Taiwan, the world¡¯s most advanced Chinese-language chatbot gives a confusing answer.

¡°Lai Ching-te,¡± Baidu¡¯s Ernie Bot accurately says. But then it adds: ¡°No matter how the situation in Taiwan changes, the basic fact is that there¡¯s only one China¡± ¡ª a comment that echoes what Beijing¡¯s diplomats said after the U.S.-friendly candidate won the race to be the next president of the island China wants to someday rule.

The political slant to what should be a straightforward question and answer is a problem for Taiwan, where officials fear influential tech platforms from China, such as TikTok and Xiaohongshu, are eroding the island¡¯s cultural and political edifices.