Starting April 1, 2025, users will gain free access to ERNIE Bot's advanced features, including extended document processing, enhanced professional search capabilities, advanced AI painting, and multilingual conversation support12. This move by Baidu comes as a result of technological improvements and reduced operational costs, with CEO Robin Li stating that the inference cost of large language models could potentially be reduced by over 90% annually34.

The free access will be available on both desktop and mobile platforms, allowing users to fully utilize the latest ERNIE foundation models25. This strategic decision not only demonstrates Baidu's commitment to making AI technology more accessible but also positions the company to compete more effectively in the rapidly evolving Chinese AI market67.

A new Deep Search feature will debut on April 1, 2025, offering users a suite of advanced capabilities at no cost. This functionality includes enhanced reasoning and planning, seamless tool integration, and expert-level content generation. It also supports multi-modal input and output, broadening its usability across various applications123.

This addition is expected to significantly improve user experience by providing more precise and context-aware responses, further solidifying its competitive edge in the AI landscape45.

China's AI market is witnessing intense competition, driving rapid innovation among major players. Baidu's decision to make ERNIE Bot free aligns with efforts to counter rivals like DeepSeek, ByteDance's Doubao, and Alibaba's AI solutions, all of which are vying for dominance in the generative AI space. This strategic shift reflects the growing pressure to attract users and expand market share amidst a surge in demand for advanced AI services123.

The move also highlights a broader trend of cost optimization and technological advancements in China's AI sector, enabling companies to offer high-quality services at reduced prices. By eliminating paywalls, Baidu aims to strengthen its foothold against competitors while enhancing accessibility for a wider audience45.

Baidu's ERNIE Bot has shown impressive growth since its launch, reflecting the increasing demand for AI chatbots in China. Here are key metrics highlighting ERNIE Bot's expansion:

• Daily active users (DAU) of ERNIE Bot surpassed 100 million in early 2025, marking a significant milestone for Baidu's AI assistant12.

• The number of enterprise clients utilizing ERNIE Bot's API services has grown to over 100,000, indicating strong adoption in the business sector34.

• ERNIE Bot has processed over 10 billion user queries since its launch, demonstrating its widespread use and capability to handle large-scale interactions56.

• The AI assistant has expanded its language support to include over 50 languages, enhancing its global accessibility and utility78.

• ERNIE Bot's knowledge base now covers more than 550 billion facts, contributing to its ability to provide accurate and diverse information across various domains97.

These growth metrics underscore ERNIE Bot's rapid adoption and Baidu's strengthening position in the competitive Chinese AI market. The decision to make ERNIE Bot free from April 1, 2025, is expected to further accelerate its user base expansion and market penetration1011.