Baidu Inc.’s founder, Robin Li, announced that their language model, Ernie 4.0, has caught up with OpenAI’s GPT-4, positioning China ahead in the race to develop AI that can rival the US. Ernie has demonstrated its sophistication and capabilities in a Q&A session, matching OpenAI’s product. While Ernie has surpassed 45 million users, it still lags behind ChatGPT’s 180 million users. Baidu, often referred to as China’s Google, sees AI as a way to surpass its rivals Alibaba and Tencent. Baidu is leading the investment in generative AI, aiming to create a next-generation platform for the Chinese internet market. However, US sanctions on advanced chips and Beijing’s censorship pose challenges for Chinese tech firms. Baidu hopes that Ernie Bot will become a core business, helping to regain users lost to competitors like ByteDance and Tencent. Baidu has integrated Ernie into various flagship products, benefiting from government endorsement of AI technology. China has approved generative AI services, including Baidu’s, for domestic release, indicating support for the technology.
