Baidu ERNIE vs OpenAI GPT-4: In the ever-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, Baidu’s ERNIE Bot 4.0 has stepped into the ring, positioning itself as a formidable competitor to the industry-darling GPT-4, according to Baidu’s CEO, Robin Li. The unveiling of ERNIE 4.0 in October, followed by its launch to paying subscribers in November, marked Baidu’s significant move to assert its presence in the AI space.
A comprehensive assessment was conducted by entering written prompts in their primary languages. While ERNIE is primarily designed for use in Chinese, it demonstrated a capability to handle English queries, albeit at a less advanced level. On the other hand, GPT-4 is optimized for English but can handle questions in various languages, such as German.
In the realm of current affairs, ERNIE exhibited an edge by outperforming GPT-4 on certain prompts. It provided up-to-date information, accurately acknowledging that Taylor Swift had achieved billionaire status, China had recently replaced its defense minister, and “Friends” star Matthew Perry had passed away. In contrast, GPT-4’s responses were outdated, reflecting information only up to April 2023.
However, when subjected to practical tasks, both ERNIE and GPT-4 showcased their prowess. Tasks such as crafting persuasive emails for a raise or devising healthy meal plans yielded comparable and commendable results from both bots. ERNIE demonstrated an ability to read the room, considering factors like company mood, while GPT-4 provided practical tips like including a document highlighting recent achievements.
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Addressing sensitive topics revealed certain limitations in ERNIE’s capabilities. When questioned about the Tiananmen Square massacre, ERNIE avoided the topic, demonstrating a programmed avoidance of contentious historical events. Inquiries about Xi Jinping‘s removal of presidential term limits led to error messages, hinting at the bot’s reluctance to engage in politically sensitive discussions.
On the contrary, GPT-4 tackled controversial questions with a diplomatic approach. It acknowledged the complexities of issues like racial equality, fairness in American foreign policy, and the need for police reform after George Floyd’s death. GPT-4 presented balanced perspectives through benign bullet-point answers, steering clear of explicit opinions.
Assessing technological capabilities, Charlie Dai, a Beijing-based vice president and research director of technology at Forrester, noted that ERNIE has made significant improvements in comprehension, generation, and reasoning. ERNIE’s unique feature of including images and videos in its replies sets it apart from GPT-4, which only produces text or code responses. However, an industry benchmark suggests that ERNIE’s performance still lags behind GPT-4, although the gap has narrowed.
Baidu reports that ERNIE has accumulated 70 million users. In comparison, GPT boasts an estimated 150 million users, showcasing its dominance in the market. Notably, OpenAI, the developer of GPT, recently introduced GPT-4 Turbo, raising the technological bar to a new level.
As the AI competition continues to unfold, Baidu and OpenAI find themselves in a race for technological supremacy. The outcomes of this competition will not only shape the capabilities of AI models but also influence their applications across various domains.
Engaging with AI on sensitive topics brings to light the regulatory and censorship challenges faced by these platforms. ERNIE’s reluctance to discuss events like the Tiananmen Square massacre and Xi Jinping’s policies aligns with China’s strict control over content that contradicts official narratives. Baidu’s adherence to censorship regulations, even within AI models, reflects the broader landscape in which these tech platforms operate.
In contrast, GPT-4 navigates controversial questions with a more open approach, presenting information while acknowledging the complexities. The ability to discuss sensitive issues highlights the contrast in regulatory environments between China and other regions.
As Baidu’s ERNIE and OpenAI’s GPT-4 continue to push the boundaries of AI capabilities, the competition intensifies. The introduction of upgraded models, such as GPT-4 Turbo, indicates a commitment to advancing AI technology. Users can expect further innovations and improvements as these tech giants strive to set new standards in the AI arena.
In conclusion, the rivalry between ERNIE and GPT-4 not only reflects the race for technological supremacy but also underscores the broader implications of AI in navigating regulatory challenges, censorship, and societal expectations. The evolving AI landscape promises a future where these models play a pivotal role in shaping our interactions with technology and information.
Our Reader’s Queries
Is GPT-4 smarter than ChatGPT?
While ChatGPT-3.5 is impressive, ChatGPT-4 takes things to the next level. For just $20 a month with ChatGPT Plus, you can access OpenAI’s most powerful large language model yet. GPT-4 is incredibly accurate and intelligent, making it a great investment for anyone looking to improve their language processing capabilities. With a subscription to ChatGPT Plus, you can start using GPT-4 today and experience the benefits for yourself.
Is there AI better than GPT-4?
Although GPT-4 is still not available to the public, there are now several open-source large language models that are just as impressive. These models, such as Anthropic’s Claude2, Meta’s LLaMA2, and MPT-30B, have made significant strides in conversational skills, reasoning, and multilingual capabilities. It’s exciting to see these alternatives emerge, as they offer accessibility to anyone who wants to use them.
Is GPT-4 made by OpenAI?
OpenAI’s latest creation, the Generative Pre-trained Transformer 4 (GPT-4), is a powerful language model that can handle multiple modes of communication. This is the fourth model in the GPT series, and it was launched on March 14, 2023. You can access it through OpenAI’s API or the paid chatbot product ChatGPT Plus. With GPT-4, you can expect top-notch performance and accuracy in language processing.
Is ChatGPT-4 worth it?
While it may have a tendency to hallucinate and make more assumptions than GPT-4, it seems that the AI is no longer worth its value. Personally, I would rather invest in quality and pay a higher price than settle for a low-quality AI. As a developer, having an AI with the highest analytical ability is essential.