Baidu Unveils ERNIE 4.5 and X1 AI Models, Challenging Global AI Leaders
Staff Writer • 2025-03-16
New Models Aim to Outperform Competitors at a Fraction of the Cost In a bold move to assert its position in the global artificial intelligence (AI) arena, China's Baidu has launched two advanced AI models: ERNIE 4.5 and ERNIE X1. These models are designed to rival leading AI systems like OpenAI's GPT-4.5 and DeepSeek's R1, offering comparable or superior performance at significantly reduced costs. ERNIE 4.5: Advancements in Multimodal AI ERNIE 4.5 represents Baidu's latest advancement in native multimodal foundation models. It integrates and comprehends various data forms, including text, images, audio, and video. According to Baidu, ERNIE 4.5 not only matches but surpasses OpenAI's GPT-4.5 across multiple benchmarks. Notably, it achieves this while being priced at just 1% of GPT-4.5's cost, making it an attractive option for businesses seeking high-quality AI solutions without the hefty price tag. ERNIE X1: Enhancing Reasoning Capabilities The ERNIE X1 model focuses on deep-thinking reasoning with multimodal capabilities. Baidu asserts that ERNIE X1 delivers performance on par with DeepSeek's R1 model but at half the price. This positions ERNIE X1 as a cost-effective alternative for enterprises requiring robust AI reasoning capabilities. Strategic Pricing and Accessibility Baidu has adopted an aggressive pricing strategy for these models. For enterprise users, ERNIE 4.5 is available at RMB 0.004 per thousand tokens for input and RMB 0.016 per thousand tokens for output, while ERNIE X1 is priced at RMB 0.002 per thousand tokens for input and RMB 0.008 per thousand tokens for output. Additionally, Baidu has made its AI chatbot, ERNIE Bot, freely accessible to individual users ahead of schedule, allowing broader access to these advanced AI capabilities. Implications for the Global AI Landscape Baidu's introduction of ERNIE 4.5 and X1 signifies a strategic effort to challenge established AI leaders by offering high-performance models at more accessible price points. This move could democratize access to advanced AI technologies, particularly for smaller enterprises and developers. It also underscores the intensifying competition in the AI sector, with companies striving to balance performance, cost, and accessibility to capture a broader market share. As Baidu continues to integrate these models into its ecosystem, including services like Baidu Search and the Wenxiaoyan app, the global AI community will be keenly observing how these developments influence the competitive dynamics among AI technology providers.
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