Baidu Unveils AI-Powered Tools and Smart Glasses
Baidu Inc (NASDAQ:BIDU) has announced the launch of new AI-powered applications, significantly expanding its artificial intelligence products, including an advanced text-to-image generator and a no-code application development tool. These developments were introduced at the annual Baidu World Conference, highlighting the company’s commitment to commercializing large language model (LLM) applications that have seen significant R&D investment in recent years.
The text-to-image technology, called I-RAG, is designed to enhance the accuracy of generated images by minimizing "hallucinations," which are inaccuracies or non-existent elements that do not align with the input text. This new tool integrates Baidu's strong search capabilities to improve the relevance and quality of the images produced.
Baidu's CEO, Robin Li, reported a significant increase in user interactions with the company's Ernie platform. The platform currently processes 1.5 billion queries and interactions daily, a substantial rise from the 200 million daily interactions recorded in May. These interactions cover a wide range of AI-supported tasks, from text generation to question answering.
In addition to I-RAG, Baidu introduced a new pair of smart glasses developed by its hardware division, Xiaodu. These glasses are equipped with cameras for capturing photos and videos and include voice interaction capabilities supported by the Ernie AI platform.
The company's strategy also encompasses integrating AI technology into its existing product range and offering these capabilities to external customers through cloud services. Unlike some competitors pursuing an AI-based "super app," Baidu’s CEO noted that the firm is not following this trend but instead focusing on a series of independent AI applications.
One of the standout innovations is the Miaoda platform, which uses Baidu's LLM technology to generate code and enables users with limited coding knowledge to develop their own software applications. This move aligns with the growing trend of democratizing software development and making it accessible to a broader audience.
As Baidu continues to strengthen its position in the field of artificial intelligence, these new tools represent the company's determination to deliver innovative solutions that meet existing technological challenges and user needs.