China’s largest search engine company, Baidu, plans to launch an AI chatbot service similar to OpenAI’s ChatGPT in March.
The tool, which has yet to be named, will be initially embedded in Baidu’s main search services and allow users to get conversation-style search results.
Baidu has invested billions of dollars in AI research in recent years and its Ernie system, a large-scale machine-learning model, will serve as the foundation for the new chatbot.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT gained widespread attention after its public debut in November and sparked a debate about the role of AI.
Baidu, along with other Chinese tech giants, controls a significant portion of China’s internet and is trying to revive growth in the mobile era.
Chinese internet users and startups have also taken an interest in AI and attracted investment from companies like Sequoia and Sinovation Ventures.
