Right here comes but more cash for AI startups. At the moment, the Chinese language search big Baidu introduced that it plans to ascertain a enterprise fund with 1 billion yuan ($145 million) to again start-ups centered on content material generated by synthetic intelligence functions.

Reuters, which reported the information earlier, mentioned the corporate may also launch a contest for builders who construct functions off its ERNIE giant language mannequin (LLM) or combine the mannequin into their current merchandise.

Baidu seems to be stealing a web page from the playbook of OpenAI, the San Francisco-based firm that’s been taking the world by storm and that first put aside $100 million for an OpenAI Startup Fund in 2021. (Per a latest submitting, that fund subsequently grew to $175 million.)

Nonetheless, the 2 corporations are hardly alone in desirous to fund startups that might turn into prospects and even eventual acquisition targets. Google, for instance, is reportedly collaborating within the latest spherical of funding for Runway AI, whose software program can conjure up photos and movies based mostly on just some phrases. (Based on The Data, Google is investing off its steadiness sheet as an alternative of through a devoted fund.)

In the meantime, in China, as within the U.S., main corporations are racing to dominate in a world that’s more and more awash in generative AI.

A number of days in the past, for instance, Baidu’s billionaire founder Robin Li mentioned the corporate will quickly launch a brand new model of a large-language mannequin, one which powers its ChatGPT-like service, Ernie Bot, which it first unveiled in March.

One other Chinese language tech big, Alibaba mentioned final month that its personal giant language mannequin, Tongyi Qianwen, can be built-in throughout its companies to enhance consumer experiences.

Tencent can be engaged on a basis mannequin, known as HunyuanAide.