Baidu Inc, a Chinese technology company will use the Ernie Bot app similar to the ChatGPT to create a "revolutionary" version of their popular search engine. This was revealed by Baidu CEO, Robin Li, on Wednesday, February 22.
Baidu, who has invested heavily in artificial intelligence in recent years, is considered at the forefront of efforts to create Chinese competitors for artificial intelligence platforms developed by OpenAI and supported by Microsoft Corp.
Robin Li told a news conference discussing the results of the fourth quarter that users will depend more on Baidu's search engine once it is equipped with Ernie Bot's chatbot which will launch in March. This is because the generative AI technology that encourages it will improve user experience and engagement.
Li added that online advertising, the company's main source of revenue, will also increase thanks to Ernie Bot's integration into search engines. Baidu plans to build an AI ecosystem around Ernie Bot.
Although Baidu's glory as China's answer to Google has eased in recent years, the company has created a new revenue stream by expanding its core business to include AI, cloud services, and autonomous vehicles.
Li said the generating AI technology that underlies Ernie Bot will provide productivity benefits for other companies and entrepreneurs who want to build their own apps.
More than 400 companies have signed up to join the Ernie Bot community as the initial user of the app. Dozens of Chinese technology companies, including Alibaba Group and JD.Com Inc, have announced plans to develop tools similar to ChatGPT.
Li said Baidu had the advantage of being the "first driver" in the Chinese market. He also said Ernie Bot was a "state of the art" among large language models driven by AI in terms of understanding Chinese language and culture.
While OpenAI and ChatGPT are not blocked by Chinese authorities, OpenAI does not allow users in mainland China, Hong Kong, Iran, Russia, and parts of Africa to register for the app.
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