Baidu, the Google of China, has launched two new AI models that compete directly with players like ChatGPT and DeepSeek at a much lower price. The company has unveiled its latest ERNIE 4.5 and X1 models. The X1 is the deep-thinking reasoning model with multimodal capabilities, and the ERNIE 4.5 is the newest foundation model and new-generation native multimodal model.
We've just unveiled ERNIE 4.5 & X1! 🚀
— Baidu Inc. (@Baidu_Inc) March 16, 2025
As a deep-thinking reasoning model with multimodal capabilities, ERNIE X1 delivers performance on par with DeepSeek R1 at only half the price. Meanwhile, ERNIE 4.5 is our latest foundation model and new-generation native multimodal model.… pic.twitter.com/cLKVHYvbzw
Here’s everything you need to know about them.
ERINE 4.5: A Multimodal Powerhouse
ERINE 4.5 is the latest multimodal foundational model and can process various data types such as text, images, audio, and video. Baidu compared its latest ERINE 4.5 model with OpenAI’s GPT-4o on several benchmarking platforms, and ERINE 4.5 outperformed GPT-4o in various benchmarks, including CCBench and OCRBench. The model showcased its advanced language skills and improved understanding, generation, and memory functions.
ERINE 4.5’s fascinating prowess is its high emotional intelligence. This enables the model to interpret complex internet memes and satirical content effectively, which is not the case with all the AI agents out there.
ERINE X1: A Reasoning Pioneer
On the other hand, the ERINE X1 is the company’s first deep-thinking model. It is designed to compete directly with another Chinese AI giant, DeepSeek. This model is claimed to excel in daily dialogue, complex calculations, and logical deduction, making it a formidable tool for tasks requiring advanced reasoning.
However, the interesting part is that Baidu claims that the ERINE X1 delivers comparable performance to DeepSeek R1 at only half the price, which is a big claim and a massive breakthrough in affordability and accessibility.
Pricing and Accessibility
Both models are now freely available through the ERNIE Bot platform for individual users, and for enterprise users and developers, ERNIE 4.5 is available via APIs on Baidu AI Cloud’s Qianfan platform. ERNIE X1 is expected to join the platform soon, offering enhanced capabilities for businesses and developers.
In terms of pricing, ERNIE 4.5 offers input and output prices starting as low as $0.55 per million tokens and $2.2 per million tokens, respectively. ERNIE X1 is even more competitively priced, with input and output costs beginning at $0.28 per million tokens and $1.1 per million tokens, respectively. These prices are significantly lower than comparable models from competitors, making Baidu’s offerings highly attractive for individual and enterprise users. The company is also planning to open-source its ERNIE 4.5 in the next few months.
Just in: We're rolling out the ERNIE 4.5 model series in the coming months and plan to open source the models from June 30th.
— Baidu Inc. (@Baidu_Inc) February 14, 2025
Curious about what's coming next? pic.twitter.com/cly6mx1hKr
Additionally, Baidu plans to integrate these models across its ecosystem, including Baidu Search and the Wenxiaoyan app, to provide a more seamless and enhanced user experience.
