Baidu Introduces ERNIE 4.0: A Game-Changing Language Model
The race in generative AI continues to heat up with Baidu, the Chinese search and web portal giant, unveiling ERNIE 4.0. This new large language foundation model brings a wave of excitement as it previews a multitude of innovative software applications that are built upon it.
One such application is Qingduo, a creative platform that aims to rival established industry giants like Canva and Adobe Creative Cloud. Both Canva and Adobe have recently incorporated AI features into their platforms, but Qingduo takes it a step further. Baidu CEO Robin Li highlights that Qingduo allows “one person to become an AI marketing team.”
“These four core capabilities form the foundation of AI-native applications,”
Li emphasizes that ERNIE 4.0, alongside ERNIE Bot, a user-facing text chatbot, is designed with four essential capabilities in mind: understanding, generating, reasoning, and memorizing. Similar to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, ERNIE Bot unleashes its prowess in comprehending complex human requests and responding to them. In live demos, it showcases its ability to generate a wide range of content, including text, images, and videos, in just minutes. Moreover, it exhibits problem-solving skills in areas like complex geometry, adapting to new information in real-time while crafting a story.
Dr. Haifeng Wang, Baidu’s Chief Technology Officer, reports that ERNIE 4.0 has witnessed a significant improvement of nearly 30% in overall performance since its beta testing phase in September. However, the new model is currently only available through an invitation-only beta access program.
AI Empowers Baidu’s Expanding App Ecosystem
Baidu is following in Microsoft’s footsteps by bringing AI technology to all its apps. Baidu Search, for instance, is enhancing user experience by offering more in-depth information and introducing an interactive chat interface for tackling complex queries. Similar to Microsoft Bing Chat and Google Bard, Baidu Search aggregates and presents consolidated answers from diverse web sources. However, it takes it a step further by displaying vivid and concise answers with the inclusion of text, image, and dynamic graphs.
Other apps within Baidu’s ecosystem are also being empowered by AI technology. Baidu GBI, a product of recent healthcare data acquisition, functions as a business intelligence tool to rapidly generate customized analytics. With fast information summarization and analysis, it serves as a knowledgeable and proactive assistant in the business world. Infoflow, another workplace app, leverages AI capabilities to streamline office tasks such as meeting scheduling and travel booking, all while taking into account individual calendars and availability. Moreover, it simplifies the process of summarizing meetings and chat conversations by highlighting key points.
Baidu Wenku, previously a document-sharing platform, has expanded its offerings to include conducting research and generating content such as documents and slideshows. Baidu Maps now features an AI guide that suggests the next course of action for users during their trips. Furthermore, Baidu Drive, the company’s cloud file storage solution, introduces YunYiduo, the world’s first cloud drive intelligent assistant. With this assistant, users can effortlessly interact through text or voice to access specific files or obtain information within them. The assistant’s capabilities extend to summarizing multiple files or segments of a video, among other impressive functionalities.
In conclusion, Baidu’s unveiling of ERNIE 4.0 and its range of AI-powered applications marks a significant milestone in the field of generative AI. The integration of AI technology across various apps within Baidu’s ecosystem demonstrates the company’s commitment to providing enhanced user experiences and efficient solutions. With these advancements, Baidu further solidifies its position as a leader in the AI industry.
