China’s search leader Baidu has long been viewed as an also-ran, but an Apple deal for AI alongside shifting political and technological winds might improve Baidu’s status.
Jacky Wong for The Wall Street Journal:
Apple has long been the epitome of tech-sector cool: sleek design, usability and legions of devotees. Baidu, China’s answer to Google, not so much — it has been a growth laggard for years.
But the artificial intelligence boom might change that. The company has held exploratory talks with Apple over using its chatbot technology in China, on top of an existing cooperation with Samsung. And AI cloud revenue is starting to pad its top line.
The frenzy kicked off by ChatGPT has spawned many clones in China and Baidu has long invested in AI, so it is only natural that it launched its own version called Ernie Bot last year.
And Ernie seems well placed to stay ahead of its competition. Samsung is already using Ernie to power some AI features in China for its newest Galaxy phone. Apple may also be eyeing the technology for its iPhones and Macs in China…
Needless to say, the fact that the likes of ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini aren’t allowed in China helps. But Apple’s endorsement, if it materializes, would cement Ernie Bot’s leading position in the country.
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MacDailyNews Take: As we wrote last week:
One benefit of Apple missing the boat on generative AI is that if they’re forced to license while they catch up, they can always blame Google, Baidu, etc. for any questionable results delivered on Apple devices with simple badges stating, “Powered by the CIA, er, Google Gemini” and “Powered by the CCP, er, Baidu Ernie.”
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Why in the World would this appear to be a good idea? We’ve learned that he who has the power of search, effectively, controls the World (y, “info” modifies properly). In the hands of Google, plenty of crap has occurred and one can know and expect that plenty more crap will happen. In the hands of China, Ernie (dork is now cool?) is going to be purer? Hereto for, Apple has genuflected passively with obedience to remove things from the OS, App Store, etc…but now joins DIRECTLY with a propaganda machine? I thought being so thoroughly connected in the manufacturing realm was costly, but now this foray? CIA, or the CCP. Hmmm, what choices.