Baidu, China’s tech giant, has launched two new AI models, ERNIE X1 and ERNIE 4.5, as part of its strategy to intensify competition in the rapidly evolving AI industry. The ERNIE X1 model is designed for advanced reasoning tasks and is marketed as an efficient alternative to DeepSeek’s R1 model, offering similar capabilities at a fraction of the cost. ERNIE 4.5 focuses on multimodal understanding and excels in interpreting complex internet content, such as memes and satire. Baidu has made these models available for free, ahead of the scheduled release, signaling its commitment to regaining leadership in AI.
Despite initial struggles with its Ernie chatbot, Baidu aims to attract more users and strengthen its market position amid growing competition from rivals like ByteDance, Alibaba, and Tencent. This move highlights China’s dynamic AI landscape, driven by strong government support and abundant data resources, pushing companies to innovate faster than ever before.