Chinese search engine giant Baidu has launched two updated AI models—Ernie 4.5 and Ernie X1—in a bid to bolster its competitive edge in the artificial intelligence market.
The new models were unveiled as part of the company’s ongoing efforts to refine its foundational AI technology and address emerging challenges in the industry.
Ernie 4.5 is the latest iteration of Baidu’s foundational model, first introduced two years ago. The update is designed to enhance the model’s emotional intelligence, enabling it to better understand memes and satire—a feature that Baidu claims sets it apart in its ability to interpret cultural nuances. In parallel, the company has introduced Ernie X1, a reasoning model that Baidu asserts performs “on par with DeepSeek R1 at only half the price.” Both models boast multimodal capabilities, meaning they can process not just text but also video, images, and audio.
Despite being one of the first Chinese companies to roll out a competitor to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Baidu has reportedly struggled to secure widespread adoption of its earlier models. Meanwhile, DeepSeek has recently unsettled American investors by launching similarly powerful models at significantly lower costs, intensifying competition in the global AI landscape.
Looking ahead, Baidu is not resting on its laurels. CNBC previously reported that the company is gearing up to release its next-generation model, Ernie 5, later this year, which is expected to bring further improvements in multimodal processing and overall performance.
As Baidu continues to evolve its AI offerings, the latest launches reflect the company’s commitment to innovation amid a rapidly changing technological environment, where performance and cost efficiency remain key battlegrounds.
Cambodia confirmed the arrest and transfer of several Chinese nationals, including individuals from Taiwan, to Chinese authorities in March, citing compliance with national law and the One China policy.
Harbin authorities accused the National Security Agency of launching cyberattacks on key sectors during February’s games, naming three agents and two U.S. universities in an official investigation.
Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Hanoi on Monday to strengthen economic ties with Vietnam, as both nations signed numerous cooperation agreements amid rising tensions with the United States over tariffs.
China sentenced a former military industry worker to life imprisonment for espionage, while Taiwan detained a former assistant to the current head of its National Security Council in a separate spying case, according to media reports on Saturday.
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Hanoi on Monday to begin a two-day state visit aimed at deepening strategic and economic relations with Vietnam, as both countries navigate mounting trade pressures from the United States.
The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reports that March 2025 was the second-warmest globally and the warmest on record in Europe, signaling ongoing changes in global climate trends.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei announced that the next round of negotiations between Tehran and Washington on nuclear issue will take place in Muscat, Oman.
European gas prices rose modestly on April 15, with the benchmark TTF index climbing 0.5% amid ongoing market adjustments, according to data from the London ICE exchange.
Cambodia confirmed the arrest and transfer of several Chinese nationals, including individuals from Taiwan, to Chinese authorities in March, citing compliance with national law and the One China policy.
The 4th session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent began this week at the UN headquarters in New York, bringing renewed international scrutiny to France and the Netherlands over their continued control of several overseas territories.
A small plane crashed near Kopake, New York, on April 13, killing at 6 people. The Mitsubishi MU-2B aircraft, carrying six people, went down under unclear circumstances. This marks the second aviation accident in New York in a week, raising safety concerns.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 10th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The death toll from the catastrophic roof collapse at a nightclub in Santo Domingo has risen to 98, with more than 160 people injured, according to Dominican authorities.
A quiet Thursday afternoon at St. Peter’s Basilica turned into something extraordinary, as visitors caught a rare glimpse of Pope Francis — not in his familiar white papal robes, but dressed in black trousers and a striped blanket.
In a dramatic about-face, U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a 90-day pause on newly implemented tariffs for dozens of countries — a move that eased market turmoil but further escalated tensions with China.
A former Meta executive, Sarah Wynn-Williams, testified before U.S. senators on Wednesday, alleging that the company compromised national security to build a lucrative business in China.
The EU is preparing to rule on Apple and Meta’s alleged breaches of the Digital Markets Act, potentially issuing fines as it seeks to curb Big Tech’s dominance and reinforce fair competition across the digital landscape.
US Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden are pressing Google and Microsoft for details on their AI partnerships, raising concerns that such deals may stifle competition, breach antitrust laws, and limit innovation in the fast-growing AI sector.
A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying an American astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts blasted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Tuesday for the International Space Station (ISS), Russia's Roscosmos space agency said.
Meta Platforms has unveiled the latest iteration of its large language model, introducing two new versions—Llama 4 Scout and Llama 4 Maverick—on Saturday.
The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reports that March 2025 was the second-warmest globally and the warmest on record in Europe, signaling ongoing changes in global climate trends.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei announced that the next round of negotiations between Tehran and Washington on nuclear issue will take place in Muscat, Oman.
European gas prices rose modestly on April 15, with the benchmark TTF index climbing 0.5% amid ongoing market adjustments, according to data from the London ICE exchange.
Cambodia confirmed the arrest and transfer of several Chinese nationals, including individuals from Taiwan, to Chinese authorities in March, citing compliance with national law and the One China policy.
The 4th session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent began this week at the UN headquarters in New York, bringing renewed international scrutiny to France and the Netherlands over their continued control of several overseas territories.
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