Baidu to Make AI Chatbot Ernie Bot Free of Charge from April 1

Baidu Goes Free: Can Open Access Boost Ernie Bot’s Popularity?

Baidu, a giant in the Chinese search market, is taking a bold step by making its AI chatbot, Ernie Bot, completely free to all users starting April 1st. This move comes after Baidu claims significant improvements in Ernie Bot’s technology and a decrease in operational costs.

Facing Fierce Competition

This decision comes at a crucial time for Baidu. The Chinese AI landscape is fiercely competitive, with newcomers like DeepSeek grabbing attention. DeepSeek offers a free AI chatbot boasting comparable performance to OpenAI’s advanced models, all while claiming lower operational costs.

Baidu, one of China’s early entrants in the AI race, had launched Ernie Bot after the global sensation of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in 2022. However, Ernie Bot has struggled to gain widespread adoption despite Baidu’s claims that its latest version, Ernie 4.0, matches the capabilities of OpenAI’s GPT-4.

Data Shows The Challenge

Data from AI product tracker Aicpb.com reveals that Baidu’s AI offerings are lagging behind rivals like ByteDance’s Doubao chatbot and the emerging DeepSeek.

Baidu previously attempted to boost Ernie Bot’s appeal by introducing premium features for its search engine, powered by Ernie 4.0, at a monthly cost.

A New Free Feature: Advanced Search

In a bid to regain ground, Baidu is also launching a free advanced search function powered by Ernie Bot on April 1st. This feature promises enhanced reasoning capabilities and the ability to integrate with tools, aiming to deliver expert-level responses.

Will Free Access Be Enough?

By making Ernie Bot entirely free, Baidu is clearly aiming to attract a wider user base and compete more effectively in the rapidly evolving AI market. But will this be enough to overcome the challenges it faces and truly stand out in a crowded landscape? Only time will tell.

What do you think of Baidu’s strategy? Will a free chatbot be enough to make Ernie Bot a household name in China?