Baidu recently announced the launch of new AI tools aimed at empowering locals with no programming skills to create AI-driven chatbots. These tools, which differ from OpenAI’s offerings by integrating directly into websites and other online platforms, are available for free up to a certain limit, mirroring some of Google’s cloud functionalities.
“In China today, there are 1 billion internet users, strong foundation models, sufficient AI application scenarios and the most complete industrial system in the world,” CEO Robin Li said in his opening speech at Baidu’s annual AI developers conference on Tuesday.
“Everyone can be a developer,” he said in Mandarin, according to a CNBC translation.
In addition, Baidu unveiled three new versions of its Ernie AI model to accommodate varying complexity in coding tasks. Since its introduction last year, the Ernie bot has gained over 200 million users and supports over 85,000 business clients who have developed around 190,000 AI applications. The applications primarily focus on consumer services like tourism and content creation.
Baidu also highlighted its advances in AI-produced code and its use in sectors like audio streaming and IT services. Despite challenges in the semiconductor supply due to U.S. restrictions, Baidu remains prepared with sufficient AI chip reserves to continue developing its technologies.
