Search engine giant Baidu unveiled an upgraded version of its artificial intelligence (AI) model, Ernie 4.0 Turbo, on Friday, aiming to strengthen its position in China’s competitive AI landscape.
The launch follows the October 2023 release of Ernie 4, which Baidu claimed had capabilities rivaling OpenAI’s GPT-4.
The new model will be accessible to the public via web and mobile app interfaces, with developers able to integrate the technology through Baidu’s Qianfan AI platform. This was announced by Baidu’s Chief Technology Officer Wang Haifeng at a corporate event. Wang also noted that Ernie has reached 300 million users since its launch.
In addition to the new AI model, Baidu announced an upgrade to its PaddlePaddle AI ecosystem, which now supports 14.65 million developers and serves 370,000 businesses and institutions.
This announcement comes shortly after OpenAI revealed plans to block access to its API from China and other countries starting July 9, affecting numerous Chinese startups that rely on OpenAI’s technology. In response, Baidu, along with Alibaba and other domestic AI firms, have launched initiatives to attract affected users, offering free migration services and incentives.
