Ernie Bot, ChatGPT-like Exceeds 200 Million Users
Robin Li, CEO of Shenzhen Baidu, recently revealed that the company’s Ernie bot, a ChatGPT-like chatbot, has surpassed 200 million users. This announcement underscores Baidu’s significant strides in the AI space, offering tools that empower users to create applications and integrate AI-powered chatbots with Baidu web search, all without the need for coding expertise.
Ernie, Baidu’s impressive language model, serves as the backbone of this popular chatbot, with leading smartphone manufacturers like Honour and Samsung leveraging Ernie’s AI capabilities in their devices. In a bid to further drive innovation, Baidu plans to host a second round of its AI development competition, with a substantial 50 million yuan ($7 million) prize at stake.
During the AI Create conference, themed Everyone is a Developer, Li showcased Baidu’s AppBuilder, ModelBuilder, and AgentBuilder tools, demonstrating how these resources enable users to build applications and chatbots seamlessly. The Ernie bot, released over a year ago, received regulatory approval in August for public use, further cementing its position in the market.
As of December, it was reported that over 26,000 organizations actively utilize Ernie’s capabilities on a monthly basis, with the chatbot handling over 50 million requests daily. This growth highlights the increasing demand for advanced AI technologies, particularly as companies worldwide strive to enhance their content generation capabilities.
Despite challenges related to access to high-end semiconductors, Baidu remains optimistic about Ernie’s future developments, thanks to its AI chip reserve that can support enhancements for the next one to two years. As China’s AI market continues to expand, with an estimated worth of over $26 billion by 2026, Baidu remains at the forefront of AI innovation, poised to capitalize on the country’s surge in digital transformation.
In a rapidly evolving AI landscape, Baidu’s Ernie bot stands out as a testament to the company’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge AI solutions to its vast user base, setting the stage for further growth and technological advancements in the field of artificial intelligence.
