Baidu Announces That Its ChatGPT Competitor, Ernie Bot, Boasts Over 100 Million Users

145

Chinese technology company Baidu announced on Thursday that its artificial intelligence product, Ernie bot, has exceeded 100 million users. Baidu’s shares closed 3% higher in U.S. trading, contributing to a modest overall gain for the company in 2023. While Baidu did not specify whether these user numbers were active or for a specific timeframe, the achievement highlights the widespread adoption of AI-powered chatbots.

Ernie bot, similar to Microsoft-backed OpenAI’s ChatGPT, can be used in both English and Chinese. To register, users need a China mobile number, and the app is known as “Wenxinyiyan” in Mandarin Chinese. Baidu introduced its chatbot in March, but regulatory approval for mass rollout was granted in late August, aligning with similar approvals for other local players.

While ChatGPT, with about 100 million weekly active users, is not officially available in China, it can be used in the Chinese language. Baidu’s Ernie bot competes with ByteDance’s Doubao, a chatbot offered by the parent company of TikTok, which holds the second position in the free-to-use productivity category in Apple’s app store in China.

In contrast, tech giants Tencent and Alibaba have primarily focused on AI products for business partners but also provide chatbots for the general public in China. Tencent’s chatbot is integrated into its widely used WeChat messaging and social media app.

Baidu recently started charging around $8 per month for its most advanced version of the Ernie bot, while ChatGPT charges $20 per month for its latest available model. The monetization of advanced chatbot features underscores the growing recognition of AI tools and their value in various applications.