In the dynamic realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the United States (US) has long held a prominent position at the forefront. However, a formidable challenger has emerged on the horizon — China, with its latest AI marvel known as ERNIE.

Developed by Baidu, one of China's most influential tech giants, ERNIE represents a significant milestone as the nation's inaugural homegrown AI platform made accessible to the general public.

The journey of ERNIE began in March 2023 when Baidu unveiled it to a select group, offering them a glimpse of its trial version.

What Can Baidu’s ERNIE Do?

ERNIE, an acronym that stands for "Enhanced Representation through Knowledge Integration”, serves as an AI-powered chatbot designed to tackle queries, handle documentation tasks, and offer analytical insights.

It operates in a manner akin to interactive AI counterparts such as ChatGPT and Bard.

What sets ERNIE apart is its multifaceted capabilities, including the generation of images and videos from text prompts — akin to innovations like Stable Diffusion, Mid-Journey, and OpenAI's DALL-E.

Notably, Baidu has gone a step further by enabling third-party plugin compatibility, allowing users to tailor ERNIE to their specific preferences.

This launch by the tech giant is only the beginning, as it has announced a strategic roadmap for introducing a range of AI-related products to the public.

Currently, ERNIE is accessible through a whitelist programme, marking the initial phase of its rollout.

What Is China’s Position on AI?

China has long upheld the paramount importance of safeguarding its citizens' privacy, a commitment that has led to certain global AI platforms, such as Chat GPT, being inaccessible to users within its borders.

The introduction of the ERNIE bot now positions China with a formidable homegrown AI platform poised to rival the likes of Chat GPT on the international stage.

Recognising the imperative for AI governance, China has embarked on a proactive journey by implementing policies to regulate AI-related products.

These robust policies demand that companies secure the requisite approvals before releasing AI products to the public.