Baidu, a leading Chinese multinational AI tech firm, has recently unveiled its own AI-based chatbot called Ernie Bot. Positioned as the Chinese competitor to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Ernie Bot is equipped with a wide range of capabilities that can assist users in various tasks, including generating text, translating languages, producing creative content, and providing informative answers to queries.
Ernie Bot relies on Baidu’s Ernie language model, which has been extensively trained on a massive dataset of text and code. This comprehensive training enables Ernie Bot to deliver accurate and contextually relevant responses to user inputs.
Although Ernie Bot is available globally, there is a restriction for users. Individuals need a Chinese phone number to register and log in to the chatbot. This requirement highlights the Chinese government’s ongoing efforts to regulate the generative AI industry and control access to such technologies.
The official release of Ernie Bot took place on August 30, following the government’s release of regulations in July. Within just 24 hours of its launch, Ernie Bot received an overwhelming response, attracting one million users and over 33.4 million user queries. This acceptance from the public demonstrates the significant interest in AI chatbots and their potential applications.
Baidu’s Ernie Bot is not the only generative AI chatbot emerging in the Chinese tech sector. Reports suggest that at least eight Chinese chatbots have been approved for public release, including ByteDance’s Doubao and Zidong Taichu 2.0 from the Institute of Automation at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Notably, other prominent players like Alibaba, JD, iFLYTEK, and 360 were not included in the initial batch of approved chatbots.
These Chinese chatbots, including Ernie Bot, possess similar functionalities to their Western counterparts like ChatGPT. They can engage in text conversations, answer queries, solve math problems, write poems, and even generate programming code. This level of versatility makes them valuable tools for businesses and individuals seeking AI-powered assistance.
Despite Ernie Bot’s promising capabilities, the Chinese government has imposed certain restrictions on its usage. In July 2023, regulations were established to ensure responsible and controlled access to generative AI models in China. To use Ernie Bot, users must create an account on Baidu and obtain a usage license, a process that can take up to three months. This requirement has resulted in some early users selling their Baidu accounts on e-commerce platforms for exorbitant prices of up to $100.
The introduction of Ernie Bot and other Chinese generative AI chatbots marks a significant development in the field of AI. By combining cutting-edge language models with practical functionalities, these chatbots open up new possibilities for businesses and individuals alike. While certain access restrictions may be in place, the potential impact of AI in various industries remains undeniable. With further advancements and iterations, it is likely that AI chatbots such as Ernie Bot will continue to evolve and become even more powerful tools in the future.