China’s leading search engine Baidu has released its AI chatbot Ernie Bot worldwide. The text and image generating bot aims to rival ChatGPT and reached 1 million users within 20 hours.
Ernie Bot leverages Baidu’s ERNIE 3.0 and PLATO language models. It integrates into Baidu’s mobile app and offers a plugin store to expand capabilities.
The conversational AI can generate text from prompts, create images from text descriptions, summarize documents, answer questions, and hold discussions.
Rapid User Growth Despite Limitations
Remarkably, Ernie Bot gained traction despite only supporting Chinese language input. Users also need a Chinese phone number to access key features.
Baidu said it plans to unveil new native AI applications to showcase Ernie Bot’s abilities in understanding, reasoning, generation, and memory.
After an underwhelming debut in March, the successful global rollout puts Ernie Bot in direct competition with ChatGPT and other AI chatbots.
Baidu stated it reached 1 million users just 20 hours after launch. Feedback will continue improving ERNIE 3.0 over time.
Complying With China’s AI Regulations
The Chinese government required Baidu and other companies to submit safety assessments before releasing generative AI commercially.
Under China’s guidelines, AI systems must adhere to socialist values. Training data must come from approved sources.
Baidu met requirements and gained approval alongside SenseTime, Zhipu AI, and others. But global reach remains limited by Chinese-only input.
Growing Threat to ChatGPT’s Dominance
Ernie Bot’s explosive growth signals rising competition despite its limits. As more companies meet China’s AI standards, even more advanced bots may follow.
For now, ChatGPT maintains a lead in language breadth and capabilities. But the race to dominate conversational AI is expanding worldwide.
Baidu’s success draws investor attention. While Ernie Bot has hurdles ahead, its debut opens a new front in generative AI’s global emergence.
FAQs About Ernie Bot
What company created Ernie Bot?
Ernie Bot is developed by Chinese tech giant Baidu, best known for its search engine.
What can Ernie Bot do compared to ChatGPT?
Both bots can generate text, summarize documents, and answer questions. But Ernie Bot also creates images from text prompts.
Does Ernie Bot work in English?
No, Ernie Bot currently only accepts Chinese input, limiting its global audience.
How quickly has Ernie Bot grown?
Within 20 hours of its international launch, Baidu reported Ernie Bot gained over 1 million users.
What regulations did Baidu face launching Ernie Bot?
The Chinese government required Baidu to submit AI safety assessments and comply with restrictions around data sourcing and content.
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