Baidu delivers new LLMs ERNIE 4.5 and ERNIE X1 undercutting DeepSeek, OpenAI on value — however they are not open supply (but)

Over the weekend, Chinese language internet search large Baidu introduced the launch of two new AI fashions, ERNIE 4.5 and ERNIE X1, a multimodal language mannequin and reasoning mannequin, respectively.

Baidu claims they provide state-of-the-art efficiency on quite a lot of metrics, besting DeepSeek’s non-reasoning V3 and OpenAI’s GPT-4.5 (how do you just like the shut title match Baidu selected as nicely?) on a number of third-party benchmark checks such because the C-Eval (assessing Chinese language LLM efficiency on data and reasoning throughout 52 topics), CMMLU (large multitask language understanding in Chinese language), and GSM8K (math phrase issues).

It additionally claims to undercut the price of each fellow Chinese language wunderkind’s DeepSeek’s R1 reasoning mannequin with ERNIE X1 by 50% and US AI juggernaut OpenAI’s GPT-4.5 with ERNIE 4.5 by 99%, respectively.

But each have some vital limitations, together with a scarcity of open supply licensing within the former case (which DeepSeek R1 gives) and a far lowered context in comparison with the latter (8,000 tokens as an alternative of 128,000, frankly an astonishingly low quantity on this age of million-token-plus context home windows. Tokens are how a big AI mannequin represents data, with extra which means extra data. A 128,000-token window is akin to a 250-page novel).

As X person @claudeglass famous in a put up, the small context window makes it maybe solely appropriate for customer support chatbots.

Baidu posted on X that it did plan to make the ERNIE 4.5 mannequin household open supply on June thirtieth, 2025.

Baidu has enabled entry to the fashions by means of its software programming interface (API) and Chinese language-language chatbot rival to ChatGPT, often known as “ERNIE Bot” — it solutions questions, generates textual content, produces artistic writing, and interacts conversationally with customers — and made ERNIE Bot free to entry.

ERNIE 4.5: A brand new technology of multimodal AI

ERNIE 4.5 is Baidu’s newest basis mannequin, designed as a local multimodal system able to processing and understanding textual content, pictures, audio, and video, and is a transparent competitor to OpenAI’s GPT-4.5 mannequin launched again in February 2025.

The mannequin has been optimized for higher comprehension, technology, reasoning, and reminiscence. Enhancements embody improved hallucination prevention, logical reasoning, and coding capabilities.

In line with Baidu, ERNIE 4.5 outperforms GPT-4.5 in a number of benchmarks whereas sustaining a considerably decrease value.

The mannequin’s developments stem from a number of key applied sciences, together with FlashMask Dynamic Consideration Masking, Heterogeneous Multimodal Combination-of-Specialists, and Self-feedback Enhanced Publish-Coaching.

ERNIE X1 introduces superior deep-thinking reasoning capabilities, emphasizing understanding, planning, reflection, and evolution.

Not like normal multimodal AI fashions, ERNIE X1 is particularly designed for advanced reasoning and power use, enabling it to carry out duties comparable to superior search, document-based Q&A, AI-generated picture interpretation, code execution, and internet web page evaluation.

The mannequin helps a variety of instruments, together with Baidu’s educational search, enterprise data search, and franchise analysis instruments. Its improvement relies on Progressive Reinforcement Studying, Finish-to-Finish Coaching integrating Chains of Thought and Motion, and a Unified Multi-Faceted Reward System.

Entry and API availability

Customers can now entry each ERNIE 4.5 and ERNIE X1 through the official ERNIE Bot web site.

For enterprise customers and builders, ERNIE 4.5 is now accessible by means of Baidu AI Cloud’s Qianfan platform through API entry. ERNIE X1 is predicted to be accessible quickly.

Pricing for API Entry:

• ERNIE 4.5:
  • Enter: $0.55 USD per 1 million tokens
  • Output: $2.2 per 1M tokens
• ERNIE X1:
  • Enter: $0.28 per 1M tokens
  • Output: $1.1 per 1M tokens

Evaluate that to:

• DeepSeek R1
  • Enter: $0.55 per 1M tokens
  • Output: $2.19 per 1M tokens

Baidu has additionally introduced plans to combine ERNIE 4.5 and ERNIE X1 into its broader ecosystem, together with Baidu Search and the Wenxiaoyan app.

Issues for enterprise decision-makers

For CIOs, CTOs, IT leaders, and DevOps groups, the launch of ERNIE 4.5 and ERNIE X1 presents each alternatives and concerns:

• Efficiency vs. Value – With pricing considerably decrease than competing fashions, organizations evaluating AI options may even see value financial savings by integrating ERNIE fashions through API. Nevertheless, additional benchmarking and real-world testing could also be essential to assess efficiency for particular enterprise purposes.
• Multimodal and Reasoning Capabilities – The power to course of and perceive textual content, pictures, audio, and video may very well be helpful for companies in industries comparable to buyer help, content material technology, authorized tech, and finance.
• Software Integration – ERNIE X1’s skill to work with instruments like superior search, document-based Q&A, and code interpretation might present automation and effectivity good points in enterprise environments.
• Ecosystem and Localization – As Baidu’s AI fashions are optimized for Chinese language-language processing and regional data, enterprises working in China or focusing on Chinese language-speaking markets might discover ERNIE fashions simpler than international options.
• Licensing and Information Privateness – Whereas Baidu has indicated that GPT-4.5 shall be made open supply later this summer time, June 30, 2025, that’s nonetheless three months away, so enterprises ought to at the very least wait till that point to evaluate whether or not it’s value deploying regionally or on US-hosted cloud providers. Enterprise customers ought to overview Baidu’s insurance policies concerning information privateness, compliance, and mannequin utilization earlier than integrating these AI options.

AI enlargement and future outlook

As AI improvement accelerates in 2025, Baidu is positioning itself as a frontrunner in multimodal and reasoning-based AI applied sciences.

The corporate plans to proceed investing in synthetic intelligence, information facilities, and cloud infrastructure to boost the capabilities of its basis fashions.

By providing a mix of highly effective efficiency and decrease prices, Baidu’s newest AI fashions purpose to supply companies and particular person customers with extra accessible and superior AI instruments.

For extra particulars, go to ERNIE Bot’s official web site.