Chinese tech giant Baidu has unveiled two new AI models, Ernie 4.5 and Ernie X1, enhancing its artificial intelligence offerings. Ernie 4.5, an upgraded version of its foundational model, boasts improved emotional intelligence, enabling it to comprehend memes and satire. Ernie X1, a reasoning model, is claimed to match the performance of DeepSeek R1 while being available at half the cost. Both models feature multimodal capabilities, allowing them to process text, images, video, and audio.
Baidu was among the first Chinese companies to introduce an AI model rivaling OpenAI’s ChatGPT, but it has faced challenges in achieving widespread adoption. Meanwhile, DeepSeek has disrupted the AI landscape by offering high-performing models at significantly lower prices, raising concerns among American AI firms and investors.
The competition in China’s AI sector continues to grow, with companies racing to develop more advanced models. Baidu has announced plans to launch Ernie 5 later this year, promising further enhancements in multimodal capabilities. The company aims to solidify its position in the AI industry by focusing on affordability and technological advancements.
As AI development accelerates, companies like Baidu are striving to refine their models to enhance user experience and expand adoption. With the introduction of Ernie 4.5 and Ernie X1, Baidu hopes to strengthen its presence in the market and compete with both domestic and international AI giants.
