Beijing, China — On Tuesday, Baidu, China’s leading technology company, announced its latest innovation in the realm of artificial intelligence: Ernie 4.0. CEO Robin Li introduced the new AI model at a special event, emphasizing its state-of-the-art memory functions and demonstrating its creative prowess.
“Ernie 4.0 is not just another update, it’s a leap forward in generative AI,” Robin Li said during the announcement. Baidu’s ambitious venture is designed to go toe-to-toe with OpenAI’s GPT-4, a pioneering AI model that has been making headlines globally.
One of the most compelling parts of the event was when Li showcased Ernie 4.0’s real-world applicability. He presented Ernie Ernie composing a real-time martial arts narrative while crafting promotional visuals and footage. This underscores Ernie’s ability to deliver versatile and practical solutions, a key attribute that could make it an attractive option for industries beyond tech.
Lu, another executive from Baidu, expanded on the announcement by highlighting the incorporation of Ernie 4.0 throughout the entire range of Baidu offerings. Users of Baidu Drive and Baidu Maps will soon find a more intuitive user interface powered by Ernie. Gone are the days of sifting through thousands of options, now you can simply use natural language queries.
Wang Haifeng, Baidu’s Chief Technology Officer, commented, “Ernie has already amassed 45 million users since its public release. We’re excited about its next phase.”
Recent data from brokerage CLSA shows that China is fast becoming a dominant player in the AI landscape. The country currently has at least 130 large language models, accounting for 40% of the global total and second only to the United States.
With Ernie 4.0, Baidu has not only elevated its own stature in the AI community but has also laid down a challenge to global competitors. As AI technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, one thing is clear: the race for AI dominance is heating up, and Baidu is determined to be at the forefront of this global shift.
