The Chinese internet giant “Baidu” announced the launch of two new generative AI models within its chatbot “Ernie Bot,” marking a move in a highly competitive sector, according to Agence France-Presse.
This announcement comes two months after the launch of a powerful, low-cost chatbot by the Chinese startup “DeepSeek,” which has revolutionized the tech world with fewer resources.
Baidu stated in a post on “WeChat” that it had released its latest AI model “X1,” which offers performance similar to “DeepSeek’s” model, but at a lower cost, alongside a new model called “Ernie 4.5.” The company added that “Ernie 4.5” outperforms OpenAI’s “GPT-4.5” in several benchmark tests, while “X1” showed enhanced capabilities in understanding, planning, thinking, and development.
These two free models were launched ahead of schedule and are now available via the “Ernie Bot.” Initially, users were expected to access them through a monthly subscription, but Baidu decided to make them available for free.
The company also announced plans to make its AI models in the “Ernie Bot” program open-source starting June 30, a move similar to what DeepSeek has done.
Baidu is a leading player in the generative AI field in China, having launched similar platforms in 2023, but competition from companies like “ByteDance” and “Monshot AI” quickly increased, making the market evolve rapidly.
DeepSeek changed the game by offering a model with similar efficiency to “ChatGPT” but at a significantly lower development cost, prompting many Chinese companies and government bodies to integrate its tools into their own programs.
For example, Baidu integrated DeepSeek’s “R1” model into its traditional search engine, while Tencent, the owner of “WeChat,” announced a new AI model in February that responds to queries faster than “DeepSeek.”
