Baidu Partners with Lenovo in AI Smartphone Deal

Last Updated on February 9, 2024 by SPN Editor

Baidu, one of China’s prominent tech giants, has been actively investing in artificial intelligence (AI) research and development. In their quest for practical AI applications, Baidu has forged partnerships with several smartphone manufacturers to seamlessly integrate their AI technologies into mobile devices. The recent collaboration with Lenovo marks their third venture in the Chinese AI smartphone market.

At the heart of this partnership lies the integration of Baidu’s Ernie LLM (Enhanced Representation through kNowledge IntEgration) into Lenovo’s smartphones. This strategic move aims to elevate user experiences by harnessing advanced language understanding and generative AI capabilities.

Ernie, a sophisticated language model developed by Baidu, differs from traditional rule-based systems. Instead of relying on predefined rules, Ernie learns from vast amounts of text data, enabling it to generate contextually relevant responses and comprehend natural language more effectively. Lenovo has already incorporated Ernie into the browser and app store apps of their personal computers and tablets.

The trend of integrating AI features into smartphones has gained global momentum. Services such as chatbots, real-time translation, and content generation have become essential for enhancing user interactions. Google’s Pixel phones, powered by robust cloud-based AI, have set a high standard. Meanwhile, Apple is reportedly exploring generative AI models for its iPhone.

According to research firm Canalys, approximately 5% of smartphones shipped worldwide by 2024 (equivalent to around 60 million devices) will be AI smartphones. However, AI services from U.S. companies, such as OpenAI (creator of ChatGPT) and Google, remain inaccessible in China due to regulatory restrictions.

In China, over 200 AI models are available, including offerings from Baidu’s main competitors, Alibaba and Tencent. Baidu’s CEO, Robin Li, underscores the importance of practical AI applications in shaping the future of technology.

Baidu’s CEO, Robin Li, emphasized last November that companies should prioritize the development of practical applications. Notably, China’s leading phone brands—Vivo, Xiaomi, and Huawei—are also actively engaged in creating their own on-device AI models, although specific details remain undisclosed.

These collaborative efforts between Baidu and smartphone manufacturers serve a dual purpose. Firstly, they bolster Baidu’s position in the AI landscape. Secondly, integrating Baidu’s AI features deeply into smartphones provides the company with access to a wealth of data. This data could prove instrumental in advancing Baidu’s large language model (LLM), allowing it to compete more effectively with rival AI companies in the United States.

Ivan Lam, an analyst at research firm Counterpoint, believes that adapting LLM for AI smartphones represents an opportune moment to showcase AI-powered features. While the current capabilities may be somewhat limited, Lam predicts that over time, these features could become indispensable.

AI smartphone represents a pivotal moment in technological advancement

Real-world Impact: Over the past few years, AI has made significant strides, leaving a profound impact on people, institutions, and culture. From handling complex language tasks to image processing, computer programs have evolved considerably since the field’s inception in the 1950s.
Collaboration with Phone Brands: Prominent Chinese phone manufacturers—Vivo, Xiaomi, and Huawei—are actively developing their on-device AI smartphones. While specific details remain undisclosed, these partnerships not only strengthen Baidu’s position in the AI landscape but also grant access to a wealth of valuable data.
Potential Must-Have Features: Although AI-powered features on smartphones may currently be somewhat limited, their potential is immense. As Ivan Lam, an analyst at research firm Counterpoint, suggests, this AI smartphone could eventually become indispensable.
Challenges and Responsibility: The increasing automation of decisions at scale presents both opportunities and risks. While AI empowers us, unaccountable algorithms and biases pose challenges. Collaborative efforts among governments, educators, and the AI research community are crucial to ensuring positive outcomes and minimizing negative impacts on society.