Baidu CEO Robin Li Yanhong highlighted strong growth in users for its Ernie large language model (LLM) during the company’s annual conference. At the event, Baidu also unveiled a pair of AI-powered smart glasses, as the company works to stand out among many competitors in China’s tech market.
Baidu’s Ernie Model Sees Major Growth in API Calls
At the event on Tuesday, Li announced that Baidu’s Ernie model, known as Wenxin in Chinese, now handles over 1.5 billion API calls per day—up from just 200 million in May. This major increase underscores the model’s rising popularity.
Since the launch of ChatGPT by OpenAI in late 2022, more than 200 large language models (LLMs) have been introduced in China, sparking intense competition in the AI sector.
Baidu, a leader in China’s AI market, launched its Ernie Bot in March 2023 and is now competing with major tech giants like Alibaba Group and Tencent Holdings, as well as numerous startups like Moonshot AI and Zhipu AI. (Note: Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post.)
Baidu is seeing growth from its AI efforts, even as revenue from its traditional online services, like ads, has declined. The company reported that AI-driven growth helped stabilize its finances in the second quarter, though it didn’t provide specifics. Revenue from online ads dropped 2% year-on-year to 19.2 billion yuan (US$2.7 billion).
Baidu’s New AI Applications Across Over 100 Industries
At the Baidu World 2024 conference, Baidu highlighted how its AI is now used across over 100 industries, from education to manufacturing. Li stressed the importance of AI agents, like Baidu’s Qiaocang, which help businesses create custom agents for customer service and sales. Baidu’s Qianfan platform has helped clients develop thousands of AI models and applications.
Baidu also introduced new products, including Xiaodu AI Glasses, which will launch in 2024, and Miaoda, a programming tool that lets users write code using natural language.
Despite these innovations, Baidu’s shares have dropped 23.5% this year, closing at US$88 on Monday before the conference.
ALSO READ: What is Background App Refresh? Complete Guide for iPhone And Android Users
