China’s Baidu unveils powerful AI models on par with DeepSeek

With the launch of ERNIE 4.5 and ERNIE X1, ERNIE Bot is made free to the public ahead of schedule, and users can access both models free of charge.

While DeepSeek certainly caused a ripple in GenAI with its reasoning model capabilities, other Chinese tech companies have also now unveiled their own versions of reasoning models that are on par with DeepSeek R1.

The latest deep-thinking reasoning model to claim supremacy with multimodal capabilities and a performance that matches the R1 is Baidu’s ERNIE X1. Available at half the price of the R1, ERNIE X1possesses enhanced capabilities in understanding, planning, reflection, and evolution.

According to Baidu, ERNIE X1 is their first multimodal deep-thinking reasoning model capable of tool use that excels in Chinese knowledge Q&A, literary creation, manuscript writing, dialogue, logical reasoning, and complex calculations. Other capabilities include supporting advanced search, Q&A on given document, image understanding, AI image generation, code interpreting, webpage reading, TreeMind mapping, Baidu academic search, business information search, and franchise information search.

Underpinning the X1 capabilities are key technologies such as the Progressive Reinforcement Learning Method, End-to-End Training Approach Integrating Chains of Thought and Action, and A Unified Multi-Faceted Reward System.

Apart from the ERNIE X1, Baidu also unveiled ERNIE 4.5, its latest new generation native multimodal foundation model independently developed. It achieves collaborative optimization through joint modeling of multiple modalities, demonstrating exceptional multimodal comprehension capabilities.

ERNIE 4.5 also has refined language skills and exhibits comprehensive improvements in understanding, generation, reasoning and memory, along with notable enhancements in hallucination prevention, logical reasoning, and coding abilities.

Baidu stated that the ERNIE 4.5 outperforms OpenAI’s GPT-4.5, which was released in February, in multiple benchmarks while priced at just 1% of GPT-4.5. Enterprise users and developers can directly access ERNIE 4.5's API through Baidu AI Cloud's Qianfan Foundation Model Platform, with input prices starting as low as RMB 0.004 per thousand tokens and output prices at RMB 0.016 per thousand tokens.

The best price for GenAI

The cost of using GenAI tools for development is also experiencing a dramatic shift. After OpenAI announced that it would moving towards a more profit-oriented pricing mechanism, Chinese AI companies seem to be doing the opposite.

Not only are Chinese AI vendors offering cheaper AI models, but they have also found a way to ensure the development of the technology continues despite sanctions by the US. Alibaba, Baidu and DeepSeek are just a few of the many Chinese companies that continue to develop AI models that are becoming as powerful or even more that those developed by OpenAI, X, Meta, Google and such.

Alibaba Group recently unveiled an open-source AI reasoning model which it claims has surpassed the performance of R1 as well. The QWQ-32B model outperforms R1 in coding and uses fewer resources for problem solving.

For Baidu, 2025 is set to be an important year for the development and iteration of large language models and technologies. With the launch of ERNIE 4.5 and ERNIE X1, Baidu expects to continue to invest in AI, data centers and cloud infrastructure to advance its AI capabilities and develop smarter and more powerful next-generation models.

Both models are now freely accessible to individual users through ERNIE Bot's official website. Both ERNIE 4.5 and X1 will also be integrated into its product ecosystem which includes Baidu Search, the Wenxiaoyan app, and other offerings, delivering a more versatile and enhanced experience to a broader base of individual users.