Baidu CEO Robin Li recently spoke at the company’s Create conference in Shenzhen, China, where he announced tools to promote the development of artificial intelligence applications among locals. Li emphasized the vast potential in China for AI development due to the large number of internet users, existing foundation models, and a complete industrial system.
While some compare China unfavorably to the U.S. in terms of AI capabilities, others highlight the country’s strength in technological application, such as fast e-commerce and food delivery services. Baidu’s new AI tools enable individuals without coding knowledge to create AI-powered chatbots for specific functions, which can be integrated into websites, search engine results, or other platforms.
The company also introduced three new versions of its Ernie AI model, named “Speed,” “Lite,” and “Tiny,” allowing developers to access based on task complexity. Baidu aims to build a comprehensive AI development ecosystem by providing various tools and platform solutions.
The company reported that its Ernie bot has amassed over 200 million users since its launch and is accessed 200 million times a day by computer programs. Baidu’s AI cloud platform has been used by over 85,000 business clients to create 190,000 AI applications.
Various use cases demonstrated during the conference focused on consumer-facing applications, such as tourism, content creation, and online shopping assistants. Baidu showcased how AI tools could enhance livestreams, search engine traffic, and e-commerce applications.
Baidu’s focus on democratizing AI development reflects a broader trend in the tech industry towards making AI more accessible and cost-effective for experimentation. The company sees the potential for small AI models to revolutionize customer service, voice assistants, and other internet-connected devices.
Looking ahead, Baidu envisions a future where AI applications will rely on a mixture of expert models. The company’s AI-produced code tool, “Comate,” has already contributed significantly to code generation. Despite global demand for generative AI, Chinese companies face challenges due to U.S. restrictions on chip exports. However, Baidu remains optimistic about its AI chip reserve and upcoming developments in the field.
Baidu CEO Robin Li highlighted the strength of the Chinese market in AI development at the company’s annual AI developers conference in Shenzhen, China. Baidu announced new tools that allow individuals without coding knowledge to create generative AI-powered chatbots for specific functions, showcasing the potential for AI applications in various industries. The company also unveiled three new versions of its Ernie AI model, providing developers with options based on complexity. Use cases demonstrated included consumer-facing applications such as tourism, content creation, and e-commerce integration. Baidu’s focus on building a comprehensive native AI development ecosystem was emphasized, with the goal of providing a full set of development tools and platform solutions. The company also highlighted its AI-produced code capabilities, which have been adopted by a range of corporate users. Despite global shortages in semiconductors needed for computing power, Baidu has a reserve of AI chips, ensuring continued enhancement of its AI models for the next one or two years. The announcement showcases Baidu’s commitment to advancing AI development and expanding AI applications across various industries.
Source link
