Baidu is set to release Ernie 5.0, its next-generation AI foundation model, in the second half of 2025, according to a source familiar with the company’s plans. The update will introduce enhanced multimodal capabilities, enabling the AI to process and convert text, images, videos, and audio seamlessly.
The launch comes amid a rapidly evolving AI landscape in China, with newer players like DeepSeek disrupting the market. Baidu CEO Robin Li emphasized that AI inference costs have dropped by more than 90% in just 12 months, underscoring China’s aggressive push to develop cost-efficient models that can rival OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
Despite being the first Chinese company to launch a ChatGPT-style chatbot in 2023, Baidu’s Ernie AI has faced growing competition from Alibaba, ByteDance, and emerging AI startups. As it prepares for Ernie 5.0, Baidu is aiming to regain momentum in the AI sector and expand the model’s integration across its consumer and enterprise platforms.
