ChatGPT,　an　innovative　artificial　intelligence　language　model,　is　attracted　significant　attention　around　the　world,　sparking　both　enthusiasm　and　controversy,　but　identifying　its　societal　impact　and　addressing　its　potential　concerns　necessitate　an　understanding　of　the　prevailing　public＇s　attitudes　toward　the　tool.　In　this　study,　we　leverage　text　mining　techniques　to　analyze　the　sentiments　and　themes　prevalent　among　Chinese　social　media　discussions　of　ChatGPT.　In　total,　96,435　comment　data　and　55,186　repost　data　were　used,　and　the　results　show　that　public　discussions　mainly　focused　on　ChatGPT＇s　technical　support,　AI-related　effectiveness,　impact　on　human　work,　and　effects　on　education　and　technology.　Concerns　were　related　to　disinformation　risks,　technological　unemployment,　and　the　human-computer　relationship.　In　addition,　we　found　that　social　media　played　a　prominent　role　in　information　dissemination,　while　official　media　and　government　units　demonstrated　a　limited　influence.　The　insights　obtained　through　this　study　can　inform　policymakers,　industry　stakeholders,　and　the　public　of　the　public＇s　prevailing　attitude　toward　AI　technologies,　and　they　can　facilitate　informed　decision-making.