Ernie System, Baidu’s comprehensive machine-learning model, which has been trained on data for several years, will be the foundation of the new upcoming tool.
Chinese search engine front Baidu is planning to unveil an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot similar to ChatGPT in March, a bold step by a search engine giant as this would potentially be the first and a noticeable entry in a competition initiated by the recent tech trends. The largest search engine company in China plans to drive AI technology into its main search engines, according to reports.
The latest addition would provide users with conversation-style search engine results much similar to ChatGPT. The company was aiming for a transition from online marketing to more of a technological phase. Ernie System, Baidu’s comprehensive machine-learning model, which has been trained on data for several years, will be the foundation of the new upcoming tool.
What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT was launched in November 2022 and gained widespread recognition and was developed by San Francisco-based OpenAI, which is led by Sam Altman and backed by Microsoft, Khosla Ventures, and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman.
What makes ChatGPT special is that it routinely generates texts based on written words in a way that’s much more advanced and in a ‘never seen before’ manner compared to the chatbots of the past.
Chat-GPT is one of many engines that are engineered to mimic writing idioms, steer clear of particular conversational tenors, and pick up on your queries. To put it another way, the more sophisticated models can store what they have learned for future use and can improve their responses as you ask more questions.
Since its release in November, OpenAI’s artificial intelligence application has dominated the internet, enticing more than a million users in a matter of days, and igniting a discussion about the use of AI in workplaces, schools, and homes.
While others are depending on the buzz to raise money, companies like Microsoft Corp. are investing billions in real-world application development. This month, following the company’s announcement that it will be utilizing ChatGPT in its programming, shares of Buzzfeed Inc. more than doubled.
Baidu Chief Executive Officer Robin Li raised ChatGPT as an example of where the tech giant can take the lead during an internal talk in December stating that “I’m so glad that the technology we are pondering every day can attract so many people’s attention and also warned that the commercialization of generative AI by making it a product that caters to everyone’s requirements could be challenging though.
Many of China’s internet services are managed by Tencent Holdings Ltd., Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., and Baidu. The Chinese search engine giant has been attempting to revive growth in the mobile era after falling behind its bigger competitors in markets like mobile advertising, video, and social networking.
The internet search juggernaut is now working on autonomous driving technology in addition to its artificial intelligence research.
Chinese internet users were equally interested in ChatGPT, and like internet users everywhere, they posted screenshots of amusing discussions they had with the AI bot on local social media.
That’s true despite a domestic internet that is severely regulated and generally cut off from the rest of the world, a pattern that has allowed businesses like Baidu to flourish as local substitutes for Google, Amazon, and Facebook.
Several Chinese startups are also exploring generative AI and have drawn investors such as Sinovation Ventures and Sequoia.
The Chinese search engine giant’s shares increased as much as 5% after Bloomberg’s report, marking the largest intraday gain in almost four weeks.