Baidu Launches ERNIE 4.5 and ERNIE X1, Makes Chatbot Free Early
Baidu introduces its new ERNIE 4.5 foundation model and ERNIE X1 reasoning model while making ERNIE Bot free for users ahead of its April schedule.
Baidu launches its latest artificial intelligence models, ERNIE 4.5 and ERNIE X1, expanding its lineup of advanced foundation tools. ERNIE 4.5 operates as a native multimodal foundation model that processes multiple types of data simultaneously, while ERNIE X1 functions as a deep-thinking reasoning model with strong multimodal capabilities.
The company makes ERNIE Bot completely free to individual users ahead of its original April 1 schedule. Both new models are now accessible at no cost through the ERNIE Bot official website, giving the public immediate access to these upgraded technologies.
ERNIE X1 matches the performance of DeepSeek R1 at half the cost, making it a highly competitive option for complex tasks. Baidu plans to integrate both models into its broader product ecosystem, including Baidu Search and the Wenxiaoyan app, while enterprise developers access ERNIE 4.5 through the Qianfan platform.