China’s Baidu has launched two new AI models, including a reasoning-focused model that it claims rivals DeepMind’s technology, as it competes to differentiate itself in the intense AI race.
As per the reports, “Chinese AI startup DeepSeek’s roll-out of AI models which it says is on par with, or even better than, industry-leading models in the United States at a fraction of the cost, has roiled the industry and re-energized the global AI race.”
The company introduced its latest advancements in artificial intelligence, aimed at enhancing its capabilities in areas such as natural language processing, machine learning, and data analysis. These models are designed to be more efficient and versatile, competing directly with the likes of OpenAI and other global AI players.
According to the reports, Baidu’s move comes as the race for AI dominance continues to heat up, with major companies racing to improve and scale their AI technologies for broader use cases across industries such as healthcare, finance, and autonomous driving.
“ERNIE X1 delivers performance on par with DeepSeek R1 at only half the price,” Baidu said of one of the new models. The X1 has “stronger understanding, planning, reflection, and evolution capabilities,” Baidu said, adding that it is the first deep-thinking model that uses tools autonomously.
The Chinese company noted that its latest foundation model ERNIE 4.5 has “excellent multimodal understanding ability. It has more advanced language ability, and its understanding, generation, logic, and memory abilities are comprehensively improved.”
It also has “high EQ”, and it is easy to understand network memes and satirical cartoons, Baidu further added.
