Nairobi, Kenya— The battle for AI supremacy in China just got even more intense.
Baidu (9888.HK) has unveiled two next-generation artificial intelligence models, including a reasoning-focused powerhouse designed to compete directly with DeepSeek’s cutting-edge AI.
And Baidu isn’t just making claims—it’s throwing down the gauntlet, promising better performance at half the cost.
ERNIE X1: Taking on DeepSeek at Half the Price
In a market where efficiency and cost-effectiveness can make or break AI adoption, Baidu’s ERNIE X1 is stepping up as a direct challenger to DeepSeek R1.
“ERNIE X1 delivers performance on par with DeepSeek R1 at only half the price,” Baidu said in a statement, emphasizing that its model excels in understanding, planning, reflection, and evolution.
What makes it stand out? It’s the first deep-thinking model that can autonomously use tools, a capability that could give Baidu a significant edge in real-world applications.
DeepSeek, a rising star in China’s AI scene, has been shaking up the industry with its claim of delivering AI models that rival top U.S. competitors—at a fraction of the cost.
Now, Baidu is making it clear: it’s not backing down in this AI showdown.
We’ve just unveiled ERNIE 4.5 & X1! 🚀As a deep-thinking reasoning model with multimodal capabilities, ERNIE X1 delivers performance on par with DeepSeek R1 at only half the price. Meanwhile, ERNIE 4.5 is our latest foundation model and new-generation native multimodal model.…
ERNIE 4.5: Smarter, More Human, and Meme-Savvy
The second release, ERNIE 4.5, isn’t just another AI model—it’s Baidu’s latest foundation model with a major leap in multimodal capabilities.
According to Baidu, ERNIE 4.5 boasts enhanced language skills, deeper logic, improved memory, and stronger content generation abilities. But perhaps its most intriguing feature? “High EQ.”
Yes, Baidu is now marketing AI with emotional intelligence.
The model is designed to better understand online memes, satirical cartoons, and internet culture, making it more adaptable for real-world applications, particularly in social media, content creation, and digital marketing.
This push into multimodal AI—a system capable of processing and integrating text, video, images, and audio—is a clear sign that Baidu wants to be a leader in the future of all-in-one AI solutions.
Can Baidu Finally Gain AI Traction?
Despite being an early mover in China’s AI space—launching its ChatGPT-style chatbot before many competitors—Baidu has struggled to gain widespread adoption.
It has long claimed that its ERNIE models rival OpenAI’s GPT-4, but industry analysts argue that adoption rates haven’t matched the hype.
With DeepSeek’s meteoric rise and increasing competition in China’s AI landscape, Baidu is now betting that better reasoning models, lower costs, and more “human” AI capabilities will give it the breakthrough it needs.
