Baidu is set to offer its AI chatbot, Ernie Bot, for free starting April 1, 2025, in response to heightened competition from the startup DeepSeek.

Baidu's decision to offer Ernie Bot for free aims to enhance user access amid intensifying competition in China's AI market.

Ernie Bot has gained popularity across various sectors, including finance, medicine, and education, reflecting its wide applicability.

Foundation models like Ernie are capable of understanding language, generating text and images, and facilitating natural language communication.

Users will enjoy complimentary access to Ernie's advanced features, which include extended document processing and advanced AI painting.

Li noted at a conference that the rapid rise of competitors like DeepSeek highlights the unpredictable nature of innovation in the tech industry.

Baidu's move towards open-sourcing aligns with a growing trend in the tech industry, where companies are increasingly embracing open-source models.

The AI chatbot landscape in China is rapidly evolving, with notable players like Zhipu AI facing scrutiny from the US government due to alleged military ties.

Baidu's Qwen models currently power the world's top 10 open-source large language models, showcasing its competitive edge in the AI market.

CEO Robin Li has shifted his stance from supporting closed-source models to recognizing the benefits of open-source development, which he believes could enhance AI adoption.

This strategic decision underscores Baidu's commitment to making artificial intelligence more accessible to a broader audience.

Analysts from Nomura anticipate that DeepSeek's innovative approach, which achieves high performance with limited computing power, will drive demand for domestic AI solutions.