Baidu has announced that the latest version of its Ernie AI chatbot will be available for free to all users starting April 1. This strategic decision comes as Baidu faces increasing competition, with a notable challenge from a collaboration between Alibaba and Apple, which aims to integrate AI technology into Chinese iPhones. The announcement led to a significant rise in Baidu's shares in Hong Kong, soaring by 10% at one point on Thursday, reflecting investor confidence in the company's approach.
The newly free version of Ernie AI chatbot is set to include advanced features previously available only to paying users. These enhancements include extended document processing capabilities, allowing users to handle documents more efficiently, and an advanced AI painting feature that enables the creation of high-quality artwork. Additionally, a new function called Deep Search will be available, offering users improved thinking and reasoning capabilities for more effective information searches.
Baidu's decision to offer these sophisticated features for free is a calculated move in response to mounting pressure in the competitive AI market. The collaboration between Alibaba and Apple poses a significant threat to Baidu's dominance in China, prompting the company to innovate and enhance its offerings. Baidu founder Robin Li remains confident that closed-source AI products can still outperform open-source alternatives in terms of business viability.
The introduction of the Deep Search function is particularly noteworthy. This feature is designed to provide users with enhanced cognitive capabilities, enabling them to perform complex searches with greater efficiency. By making Ernie AI chatbot free, Baidu aims to expand its user base and solidify its position as a leader in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
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