In a bold shift, Chinese tech giant Baidu has announced plans to open-source its next-generation AI model, Ernie, starting June 30. This marks a strategic departure from its previously guarded approach, as competition in the artificial intelligence sector intensifies.
For years, Baidu CEO Robin Li championed closed-source AI as the best path forward. However, the emergence of DeepSeek—a startup offering open-source AI models rivaling OpenAI’s technology—has disrupted the industry, pushing Baidu to rethink its stance.
In a bid to expand its user base, Baidu also revealed that its AI chatbot, Ernie Bot, will become entirely free starting April 1. The company had initially introduced premium versions of the chatbot, but adoption lagged behind competitors.
Baidu was among China’s earliest AI investors following OpenAI’s launch of ChatGPT in 2022. Despite its efforts, Ernie has struggled to achieve widespread traction. The current version, Ernie 4.0, is said to be on par with OpenAI’s GPT-4, yet it trails behind rivals in user engagement. According to AI product tracker Aicpb.com, ByteDance’s Doubao leads the Chinese market with 78.6 million monthly active users, followed by DeepSeek with 33.7 million. Ernie Bot lags behind at just 13 million users.
Baidu is now looking ahead, planning to roll out the Ernie 4.5 series in the coming months before officially open-sourcing it in June. Additionally, sources indicate that Baidu will introduce its next-generation model, Ernie 5, in the latter half of 2025.
Robin Li’s recent remarks suggest a shift in philosophy, as he acknowledged the benefits of open-source AI during a Dubai event. “When you open things up, more people become curious and willing to experiment, which helps accelerate AI adoption,” he stated.
With this pivot, Baidu is making a calculated bet that greater accessibility and community-driven innovation will drive its AI technology forward. The move not only positions Ernie for wider adoption but also signals a new era in China’s AI race.