Baidu has unveiled two new AI models, Ernie X1 and Ernie 4.5, further solidifying its commitment to advancing in the artificial intelligence sector.
Ernie X1 is a model focused on reasoning, with Baidu claiming it performs on par with DeepSeek's R1 model but at half the price. The company states that Ernie X1 demonstrates enhanced understanding, planning, reflection, and evolution capabilities. Notably, it is the first "deep-thinking" model capable of independently utilizing external tools.
In addition, Baidu has introduced Ernie 4.5, a more standardized non-reasoning model designed to compete with OpenAI’s GPT-4o. Ernie 4.5 boasts superior multimodal understanding and advanced language proficiency. According to Baidu, the model delivers improvements in human comprehension, response generation, and memory retention.
Multimodal AI systems can process various data types, including text prompts, videos, images, or audio files, and seamlessly convert content between these formats. Reports indicate that Ernie 4.5 also exhibits "high emotional intelligence," excelling in interpreting internet memes and satirical cartoons.
DeepSeek’s R1 model, launched just before Christmas last year, set a new benchmark for AI developers by offering capabilities comparable to top U.S. AI models while maintaining significantly lower training costs. Since then, the Chinese government and several domestic firms have backed DeepSeek, integrating its models into their products and services. Baidu is no exception, having iteratively incorporated DeepSeek R1 into its flagship search engine.
Amid fierce domestic competition, including challenges from tech giants like ByteDance (parent company of TikTok) and Tencent, Baidu has been striving to enhance the competitiveness of its AI models. In February, Tencent's WeChat launched a new model that reportedly responds to queries faster than DeepSeek. Meanwhile, Alibaba Group announced plans to invest 380 billion yuan (approximately $52 billion) over the next three years into AI and cloud computing research.
Baidu also revealed plans to open-source the codebase for its Ernie models later this year, aligning with DeepSeek’s openness strategy. As major tech companies continue to innovate and invest, China’s AI landscape is becoming increasingly competitive.
