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.
U.S. intelligence sources indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin still intends to take control of all of Ukraine and reclaim parts of Europe t...
AnewZ has premiered The Oligarch’s Design, a long-form investigative documentary marking the launch of AnewZ Investigations, the channel’s new edi...
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a stark warning over the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip....
The United States says it is working to secure a renewed ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, expressing cautious optimism that an agreement could...
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s official visit to Tokyo represents more than a strengthening of bilateral relations; it is a strategic step tha...
The foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand have told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that they are willing to pursue a ceasefire, as tensions flared along parts of the two countries’ shared border.
Mounting U.S.-China tensions are heightening concerns about miscalculation, with political distrust increasingly shaping how both sides respond to emerging crises.
Germany has confirmed a 43 million tonne lithium carbonate equivalent resource in the Altmark region, fuelling expectations that Europe could reduce strategic dependence on China as electric vehicle demand and clean transport targets accelerate.
A major financing agreement has been signed for the construction of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, a flagship cross-border infrastructure project expected to reshape transport connectivity across Central Asia.
Ukraine has welcomed the European Union’s decision to provide €90 billion in support over the next two years, calling it a vital lifeline even as the bloc failed to reach agreement on using frozen Russian assets to finance the aid.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has warned that attempts to reach a peace agreement in Ukraine are being undermined by Russia’s continued refusal to engage meaningfully in negotiations.
A rare pair of bright-green Nike “Grinch” sneakers worn and signed by the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant have gone on public display in Beverly Hills, ahead of an auction that could set a new record for sports memorabilia.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has held a phone conversation with his Venezuelan counterpart Yvan Gil at the latter’s request.
Petroleum products are being transported by rail from Azerbaijan to Armenia for the first time in decades. The move is hailed as a tangible breakthrough in efforts to normalise relations between the long-time rivals.
China’s core artificial intelligence (AI) industry is projected to surpass 1.2 trillion yuan in 2025 (about $170 billion), up from more than 900 billion yuan in 2024, according to a new industry assessment.
Time Magazine has chosen the creators behind artificial intelligence as its 2025 Person of the Year, highlighting the technology’s sweeping impact on global business, politics and daily life.
Children are forming new patterns of trust and attachment with artificial intelligence (AI) companions, entering a world where digital partners shape their play, their confidence and the conversations they no longer share with adults.
The International Robot Exhibition (IREX) opened in Tokyo on 3 December, bringing together visitors to explore robotics applications for industry, healthcare, logistics, and everyday life.
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators, including prominent Republican China hawk Tom Cotton, introduced the SAFE CHIPS Act on Thursday, aiming to prevent the Trump administration from easing restrictions on China’s access to advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chips for a period of 2.5 years.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment