Translated by Claude, edited by Sinocism.com
Source: Cover News (封面新闻), republishing the Ministry of State Security WeChat public account post “‘AI中转站’，风险要防范” / “‘AI transfer Stations’: Guard Against the Risks.”
On June 8, the Ministry of State Security’s WeChat public account published “‘AI Transfer Stations’: Guard Against the Risks.” For some time now, as demand for AI applications has surged, “AI transfer stations” — services that provide bulk access to domestic and overseas large models — have quickly gained popularity in China. However, the current “AI transfer” market is a mixed bag: some “AI transfer stations” lack operating qualifications and have weak security protections, and incidents of user privacy leaks and data resale occur from time to time. The data security risks cannot be ignored.
6月8日，“国家安全部”微信公众号发布《“AI中转站”，风险要防范》。一段时间以来，随着人工智能应用需求的迅猛增长，批量提供海内外大模型访问服务的“AI中转站”在国内迅速走红。然而，当前“AI中转”市场鱼龙混杂，部分“AI中转站”运营资质缺失、安全防护薄弱，用户隐私泄露与数据倒卖问题时有发生，数据安全风险不容忽视。
An “AI transfer station” is a proxy layer between users and the official services of AI model vendors. It consolidates the application programming interfaces (APIs) of various AI model vendors onto a single platform and offers them to users. To put it vividly, an “AI transfer station” is the “middleman” between users and large models, helping users more conveniently call on multiple AI large models and meeting their varied usage needs in one place.
“AI中转站”是介于用户和AI模型厂商官方服务之间的代理层。它把各家AI模型厂商的应用程序编程接口（API）统一整合到一个平台，再提供给用户。形象地讲，“AI中转站”就是用户和大模型之间的“中介”，可以帮助用户更便捷地调用多个AI大模型，一站式满足用户多样化使用需求。
— No need to switch models. Users need only access a single entry point at the transfer station to call on mainstream large models at home and abroad, with no need to switch back and forth.
——无需切换模型。用户只需接入中转站一个入口，即可调用国内外主流大模型，无需来回切换。
— Relatively low prices. To attract users, some “AI transfer stations” use discounts and points subsidies, making the cost of using an “AI transfer station” lower than the official list price.
——价格相对低廉。为吸引用户使用，部分“AI中转站”会利用折扣与积分补贴，使“AI中转站”的使用成本低于官方标价。
— Convenient payment methods. Users can pay through mainstream domestic payment channels, making top-up and use straightforward.
——支付方式便捷。用户可以使用国内主流支付渠道进行支付，便于充值使用。
— Bypassing usage restrictions. Users can even use these stations to get around restrictions on network access, official authorization, and cross-border transmission, connecting directly to some overseas large models.
——绕过使用限制。用户甚至可以借此绕过网络访问、官方授权、跨境传输等限制，直连部分海外大模型。
While “AI transfer stations” provide low-cost, convenient services and fill a market gap, their crude development and disorderly operations have given rise to a series of security risks.