Ernie 4.5 is a native multimodal foundation model that unifies text, image, audio, and video understanding. It has improved understanding, generation, reasoning, and memory functions, and is a versatile tool for numerous applications. Most significantly, Ernie 4.5 outperforms GPT-4.5 in many benchmarks at just 1% of GPT-4.5’s cost. This is a competitive pricing strategy that positions Baidu as a market leader in delivering low-cost but high-power AI solutions. Enterprise pricing on Ernie 4.5 starts at RMB 0.004 per thousand tokens as input and RMB 0.016 as output.
Ernie X1, on the other hand, is a deep thinking model with multimodal capabilities. It is designed to offer performance similar to DeepSeek R1 but at lower cost. This model can run on various tools like advanced search, Q&A on given documents, image understanding, AI image generation, code interpreting, webpage reading, and so on. Cost-effectiveness of Ernie X1, whose enterprise price is as little as RMB 0.002 input per thousand tokens and RMB 0.008 output, makes the model an attractive option for organizations seeking AI capabilities without a heavy price tag like some of its counterparts.
Ernie 4.5 and Ernie X1 are now publicly accessible to individual users through Baidu’s ERNIE Bot platform, ahead of the initially established timeline. The move signifies Baidu’s goal of making sophisticated AI accessible to more individuals. Enterprise users and developers can access Ernie 4.5 through APIs on Baidu AI Cloud’s Qianfan Foundation Model Platform, with Ernie X1 shortly after.
The unveiling of these models marks a significant step in Baidu’s AI research development. It highlights the company’s efforts to push the boundaries with multimodal and reasoning models and to offer best-in-class capabilities at a reduced cost. Baidu wants to integrate both models into its product lines, including Baidu Search and the Wenxiaoyan app, to offer users a more varied and richer experience.
Baidu’s strategic move comes at a time when the AI industry is being hit by tougher competition, particularly with the appearance of models like DeepSeek and OpenAI’s ChatGPT. With its competitive pricing model and improved performance, Baidu aims to emerge as a tech leader in the AI space. The company’s commitment to continued investment in AI, data centers, and cloud infrastructure is reflective of its goal to build wiser and stronger next-generation models.
In the big picture, 2025 is set to be a year that defines AI innovation, with the recent launches from Baidu leading the way towards greater innovation and refinement in large language models and technology. With AI further changing industries and consumer trends, Baidu’s innovation with Ernie 4.5 and Ernie X1 places the firm at the helm of this tech revolution.
