- With the launch of ERNIE 4.5 and ERNIE X1, ERNIE Bot is made free to the public ahead of schedule, and users can access both models free of charge.
- As a deep-thinking reasoning model with multimodal capabilities, ERNIE X1 delivers performance on par with DeepSeek R1 at only half the price.
- ERNIE 4.5 is the company's latest foundation model and native multimodal model, with input and output prices starting as low as RMB 0.004 per thousand tokens and RMB 0.016 per thousand tokens.
BEIJING, March 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Baidu, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU and HKEX: 9888), a leading AI company with strong Internet foundation, today launched its latest foundation models, including native multimodal foundation model ERNIE 4.5 and deep-thinking reasoning model ERNIE X1. Both models are now freely accessible to individual users through ERNIE Bot's official website (https://yiyan.baidu.com/).
The launch of ERNIE 4.5 and ERNIE X1 marks a significant milestone in pushing the boundaries of multimodal and reasoning models, offering advanced capabilities at a more accessible price point. It also underscores Baidu's commitment to continued investment in developing smarter and more powerful next-generation foundation models.
Baidu also plans to progressively integrate both ERNIE 4.5 and X1 into its product ecosystem. This integration will include Baidu Search, the Wenxiaoyan app, and other offerings, delivering a more versatile and enhanced experience to a broader base of individual users.
With the addition of ERNIE 4.5 and ERNIE X1 today, ERNIE Bot is being made free to the public ahead of schedule. Earlier this year, the company announced a plan that ERNIE Bot would become fully-free to individual users starting April 1. For enterprise users and developers, ERNIE 4.5 is now accessible via APIs on Baidu AI Cloud's MaaS platform Qianfan, while ERNIE X1 is set to be available on the platform soon.
ERNIE 4.5: Baidu's New Generation Native Multimodal Foundation Model
ERNIE 4.5 is Baidu's new generation native multimodal foundation model independently developed by the company. It achieves collaborative optimization through joint modeling of multiple modalities, demonstrating exceptional multimodal comprehension capabilities. With refined language skills, it exhibits comprehensive improvements in understanding, generation, reasoning and memory, along with notable enhancements in hallucination prevention, logical reasoning, and coding abilities.
ERNIE 4.5's multimodal capabilities are evident in its ability to integrate and understand text, images, audio, and video content.
ERNIE 4.5 also possesses strong intelligence and contextual awareness, effortlessly understanding internet memes, satirical cartoons, and more.
As Baidu's latest foundation model and native multimodal model, ERNIE 4.5 outperforms GPT-4.5 in multiple benchmarks while priced at just 1% of GPT-4.5.
The significant enhancements in ERNIE 4.5's capabilities are attributed to several key technologies including "FlashMask" Dynamic Attention Masking, Heterogeneous Multimodal Mixture-of-Experts, Spatiotemporal Representation Compression, Knowledge-Centric Training Data Construction, Self-feedback Enhanced Post-Training.
ERNIE X1: Baidu's New Deep-Thinking Reasoning Model
ERNIE X1 possesses enhanced capabilities in understanding, planning, reflection, and evolution. As Baidu's first multimodal deep-thinking reasoning model capable of tool use, X1 also excels in Chinese knowledge Q&A, literary creation, manuscript writing, dialogue, logical reasoning, and complex calculations.
Specifically for tool use, X1 supports various tools including advanced search, Q&A on given document, image understanding, AI image generation, code interpreting, webpage reading, TreeMind mapping, Baidu academic search, business information search, and franchise information search.
The comprehensive uplift in ERNIE X1's capabilities is underpinned by key technologies such as the Progressive Reinforcement Learning Method, End-to-End Training Approach Integrating Chains of Thought and Action, and A Unified Multi-Faceted Reward System.
Enterprise users and developers can directly access ERNIE 4.5's API through Baidu AI Cloud's Qianfan Foundation Model Platform, with input prices starting as low as RMB 0.004 per thousand tokens and output prices at RMB 0.016 per thousand tokens. ERNIE X1 will soon be available on the Qianfan Platform, with input prices as low as RMB 0.002 per thousand tokens and output prices as low as RMB 0.008 per thousand tokens.
2025 is set to be an important year for the development and iteration of large language models and technologies. With the launch of ERNIE 4.5 and ERNIE X1, Baidu will continue to invest in artificial intelligence, data centers and cloud infrastructure to advance our AI capabilities, and develop smarter and more powerful next-generation models.
About Baidu
Founded in 2000, Baidu's mission is to make the complicated world simpler through technology. Baidu is a leading AI company with strong internet foundation, trading on the NASDAQ under "BIDU" and HKEX under "9888." One Baidu ADS represents eight Class A ordinary shares.
Media Contact
intlcomm@baidu.com
BEIJING, March 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Baidu, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU and HKEX: 9888), a leading AI company with strong Internet foundation, today launched its latest foundation models, including native multimodal foundation model ERNIE 4.5 and deep-thinking reasoning model ERNIE X1. Both models are now freely accessible to individual users through ERNIE Bot's official website (https://yiyan.baidu.com/).
The launch of ERNIE 4.5 and ERNIE X1 marks a significant milestone in pushing the boundaries of multimodal and reasoning models, offering advanced capabilities at a more accessible price point. It also underscores Baidu's commitment to continued investment in developing smarter and more powerful next-generation foundation models.
Baidu also plans to progressively integrate both ERNIE 4.5 and X1 into its product ecosystem. This integration will include Baidu Search, the Wenxiaoyan app, and other offerings, delivering a more versatile and enhanced experience to a broader base of individual users.
With the addition of ERNIE 4.5 and ERNIE X1 today, ERNIE Bot is being made free to the public ahead of schedule. Earlier this year, the company announced a plan that ERNIE Bot would become fully-free to individual users starting April 1. For enterprise users and developers, ERNIE 4.5 is now accessible via APIs on Baidu AI Cloud's MaaS platform Qianfan, while ERNIE X1 is set to be available on the platform soon.
ERNIE 4.5: Baidu's New Generation Native Multimodal Foundation Model
ERNIE 4.5 is Baidu's new generation native multimodal foundation model independently developed by the company. It achieves collaborative optimization through joint modeling of multiple modalities, demonstrating exceptional multimodal comprehension capabilities. With refined language skills, it exhibits comprehensive improvements in understanding, generation, reasoning and memory, along with notable enhancements in hallucination prevention, logical reasoning, and coding abilities.
ERNIE 4.5's multimodal capabilities are evident in its ability to integrate and understand text, images, audio, and video content.
ERNIE 4.5 also possesses strong intelligence and contextual awareness, effortlessly understanding internet memes, satirical cartoons, and more.
As Baidu's latest foundation model and native multimodal model, ERNIE 4.5 outperforms GPT-4.5 in multiple benchmarks while priced at just 1% of GPT-4.5.
The significant enhancements in ERNIE 4.5's capabilities are attributed to several key technologies including "FlashMask" Dynamic Attention Masking, Heterogeneous Multimodal Mixture-of-Experts, Spatiotemporal Representation Compression, Knowledge-Centric Training Data Construction, Self-feedback Enhanced Post-Training.
ERNIE X1: Baidu's New Deep-Thinking Reasoning Model
ERNIE X1 possesses enhanced capabilities in understanding, planning, reflection, and evolution. As Baidu's first multimodal deep-thinking reasoning model capable of tool use, X1 also excels in Chinese knowledge Q&A, literary creation, manuscript writing, dialogue, logical reasoning, and complex calculations.
Specifically for tool use, X1 supports various tools including advanced search, Q&A on given document, image understanding, AI image generation, code interpreting, webpage reading, TreeMind mapping, Baidu academic search, business information search, and franchise information search.
The comprehensive uplift in ERNIE X1's capabilities is underpinned by key technologies such as the Progressive Reinforcement Learning Method, End-to-End Training Approach Integrating Chains of Thought and Action, and A Unified Multi-Faceted Reward System.
Enterprise users and developers can directly access ERNIE 4.5's API through Baidu AI Cloud's Qianfan Foundation Model Platform, with input prices starting as low as RMB 0.004 per thousand tokens and output prices at RMB 0.016 per thousand tokens. ERNIE X1 will soon be available on the Qianfan Platform, with input prices as low as RMB 0.002 per thousand tokens and output prices as low as RMB 0.008 per thousand tokens.
2025 is set to be an important year for the development and iteration of large language models and technologies. With the launch of ERNIE 4.5 and ERNIE X1, Baidu will continue to invest in artificial intelligence, data centers and cloud infrastructure to advance our AI capabilities, and develop smarter and more powerful next-generation models.
About Baidu
Founded in 2000, Baidu's mission is to make the complicated world simpler through technology. Baidu is a leading AI company with strong internet foundation, trading on the NASDAQ under "BIDU" and HKEX under "9888." One Baidu ADS represents eight Class A ordinary shares.
Media Contact
intlcomm@baidu.com
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Baidu Unveils ERNIE 4.5 and Reasoning Model ERNIE X1, Makes ERNIE Bot Free Ahead of Schedule
Baidu Unveils ERNIE 4.5 and Reasoning Model ERNIE X1, Makes ERNIE Bot Free Ahead of Schedule
- Company named "Best Financially Managed Semiconductor Company (Achieving Greater than $1 Billion in Annual Sales)" and "Outstanding Asia-Pacific Semiconductor Company" simultaneously
- Accelerates recovery from market downturn leveraging world-class HBM leadership; Global management performance recognized
- Reflects company's technology leadership and customer-centric execution
- SK Chairman Chey Tae-won emphasizes: "Technological competitiveness must remain unwavering in challenging times"
- Commits to driving new customer value and leading global AI market growth as a "Full-Stack AI Memory Creator"
SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SK hynix Inc. (or "the company", www.skhynix.com) announced today that it has been named the winner of the Best Financially Managed Semiconductor Company Award (Achieving Greater than $1 Billion in Annual Sales)[1] and the Outstanding Asia-Pacific Semiconductor Company Award[2] at the Global Semiconductor Alliance (GSA)[3] Awards 2025, held on December 4 PST in Santa Clara, California.
| [1]The Best Financially Managed Semiconductor Company Award: A category recognizing public semiconductor companies based on financial soundness and operational efficiency. Awards are presented in two categories — annual sales over $1 billion and annual sales under $1 billion — and are considered among the most authoritative honors in the global semiconductor industry. |
| [2]Outstanding Asia-Pacific Semiconductor Company Award: A special category recognizing semiconductor companies headquartered in the Asia-Pacific region based on comprehensive evaluations including product excellence, business vision, leadership, and market success. |
| [3]GSA(Global Semiconductor Alliance): A global CEO-level semiconductor organization serving as a hub for technological information sharing across more than 25 countries and over 250 corporate members. |
The GSA Awards, organized annually since 1996, are regarded as the most prestigious honors in the global semiconductor sector, recognizing outstanding performance in leadership, financial results and industry reputation. SK hynix secured its second win in the financial management category following 2017, and its first recognition as the top Asia-Pacific semiconductor company. The dual achievement reinforces the company's reputation as a leading global technology innovator.
While the semiconductor industry faced a severe downturn just two years ago, the company has been the fastest to rebound thanks to its advanced AI memory technologies including HBM. This performance has resulted in global recognition for its operational excellence and financial execution. SK hynix plans to continue building sustainable growth with its dominant leadership in the AI memory market.
The awards reflect the company's proactive delivery of groundbreaking HBM solutions and its steadfast commitment to customer-centric performance in surging global AI demand. SK Chairman Chey Tae-won has consistently emphasized that securing technological competitiveness must remain unwavering, especially during challenging times. This long-term focus on technology investment and global cooperation network has contributed to the company's improved performance and reinforced financial health.
Driven by this strategy, SK hynix has recorded historic performance throughout 2025. For the first three quarters, the company reported revenue of 64 trillion won and operating profit of 28 trillion won in total, positioning it well to surpass its previous full-year earnings record set in 2024 (66 trillion won in revenue and 23 trillion won in operating profit).
Financial health has also significantly strengthened. As of the end of the third quarter, cash and cash equivalents reached 27.9 trillion won, up 10.9 trillion won quarter-over-quarter, while interest bearing debt decreased to 24.1 trillion won— successfully transitioning into a net cash position of approximately 4 trillion won.
To secure long-term leadership in AI memory, SK hynix is accelerating major investments. The Cheongju M15X fab, which opened its cleanroom earlier than planned in October, is on track to begin HBM mass production in the first half of next year. Construction of the first fab in the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster, launched in February, is also progressing ahead of schedule.
With its recent financial achievements and continued expansion, SK hynix is expected to further solidify its AI memory leadership going forward.
SK hynix was represented at the ceremony by Justin Kim, President & Head of AI Infra at SK hynix, and Sungsoo Ryu, President of SK hynix America. "It is a great honor to receive this award." Kim said, "We will continue to lead the market and create new value for customers as a Full-Stack AI Memory Creator, driving growth across the global AI ecosystem."
About SK hynix Inc.
SK hynix Inc., headquartered in Korea, is the world's top tier semiconductor supplier offering Dynamic Random Access Memory chips ("DRAM") and flash memory chips ("NAND flash") for a wide range of distinguished customers globally. The Company's shares are traded on the Korea Exchange, and the Global Depository shares are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. Further information about SK hynix is available at www.skhynix.com, news.skhynix.com.
SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SK hynix Inc. (or "the company", www.skhynix.com) announced today that it has been named the winner of the Best Financially Managed Semiconductor Company Award (Achieving Greater than $1 Billion in Annual Sales)[1] and the Outstanding Asia-Pacific Semiconductor Company Award[2] at the Global Semiconductor Alliance (GSA)[3] Awards 2025, held on December 4 PST in Santa Clara, California.
| [1]The Best Financially Managed Semiconductor Company Award: A category recognizing public semiconductor companies based on financial soundness and operational efficiency. Awards are presented in two categories — annual sales over $1 billion and annual sales under $1 billion — and are considered among the most authoritative honors in the global semiconductor industry. |
| [2]Outstanding Asia-Pacific Semiconductor Company Award: A special category recognizing semiconductor companies headquartered in the Asia-Pacific region based on comprehensive evaluations including product excellence, business vision, leadership, and market success. |
| [3]GSA(Global Semiconductor Alliance): A global CEO-level semiconductor organization serving as a hub for technological information sharing across more than 25 countries and over 250 corporate members. |
[1]The Best Financially Managed Semiconductor Company Award: A category recognizing public semiconductor companies based on financial soundness and operational efficiency. Awards are presented in two categories — annual sales over $1 billion and annual sales under $1 billion — and are considered among the most authoritative honors in the global semiconductor industry.
[2]Outstanding Asia-Pacific Semiconductor Company Award: A special category recognizing semiconductor companies headquartered in the Asia-Pacific region based on comprehensive evaluations including product excellence, business vision, leadership, and market success.
[3]GSA(Global Semiconductor Alliance): A global CEO-level semiconductor organization serving as a hub for technological information sharing across more than 25 countries and over 250 corporate members.
The GSA Awards, organized annually since 1996, are regarded as the most prestigious honors in the global semiconductor sector, recognizing outstanding performance in leadership, financial results and industry reputation. SK hynix secured its second win in the financial management category following 2017, and its first recognition as the top Asia-Pacific semiconductor company. The dual achievement reinforces the company's reputation as a leading global technology innovator.
While the semiconductor industry faced a severe downturn just two years ago, the company has been the fastest to rebound thanks to its advanced AI memory technologies including HBM. This performance has resulted in global recognition for its operational excellence and financial execution. SK hynix plans to continue building sustainable growth with its dominant leadership in the AI memory market.
The awards reflect the company's proactive delivery of groundbreaking HBM solutions and its steadfast commitment to customer-centric performance in surging global AI demand. SK Chairman Chey Tae-won has consistently emphasized that securing technological competitiveness must remain unwavering, especially during challenging times. This long-term focus on technology investment and global cooperation network has contributed to the company's improved performance and reinforced financial health.
Driven by this strategy, SK hynix has recorded historic performance throughout 2025. For the first three quarters, the company reported revenue of 64 trillion won and operating profit of 28 trillion won in total, positioning it well to surpass its previous full-year earnings record set in 2024 (66 trillion won in revenue and 23 trillion won in operating profit).
Financial health has also significantly strengthened. As of the end of the third quarter, cash and cash equivalents reached 27.9 trillion won, up 10.9 trillion won quarter-over-quarter, while interest bearing debt decreased to 24.1 trillion won— successfully transitioning into a net cash position of approximately 4 trillion won.
To secure long-term leadership in AI memory, SK hynix is accelerating major investments. The Cheongju M15X fab, which opened its cleanroom earlier than planned in October, is on track to begin HBM mass production in the first half of next year. Construction of the first fab in the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster, launched in February, is also progressing ahead of schedule.
With its recent financial achievements and continued expansion, SK hynix is expected to further solidify its AI memory leadership going forward.
SK hynix was represented at the ceremony by Justin Kim, President & Head of AI Infra at SK hynix, and Sungsoo Ryu, President of SK hynix America. "It is a great honor to receive this award." Kim said, "We will continue to lead the market and create new value for customers as a Full-Stack AI Memory Creator, driving growth across the global AI ecosystem."
About SK hynix Inc.
SK hynix Inc., headquartered in Korea, is the world's top tier semiconductor supplier offering Dynamic Random Access Memory chips ("DRAM") and flash memory chips ("NAND flash") for a wide range of distinguished customers globally. The Company's shares are traded on the Korea Exchange, and the Global Depository shares are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. Further information about SK hynix is available at www.skhynix.com, news.skhynix.com.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
SK hynix Honored with Two Major Titles at GSA Awards 2025
