Robin Li, Baidu's founder, has publicly questioned the demand for DeepSeek's text generation capabilities, a rare critique of a leading Chinese AI model. This comes despite Baidu's significant investment in AI, including its Ernie bot. Li noted that while image generation AI is experiencing high demand, the need for text-based AI from companies like DeepSeek is diminishing. This statement is noteworthy because DeepSeek, backed by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing, is considered a frontrunner in China's generative AI race.
Li's comments suggest a possible shift in the AI market, with image generation potentially offering more immediate commercial opportunities than text generation. Baidu's focus remains on developing comprehensive AI models, but Li's remarks highlight the challenges in finding profitable applications for all AI technologies. The competitive landscape in China's AI sector is intense, and Baidu's critique could signal a strategic repositioning or an attempt to manage market expectations around different types of generative AI.
The observation about DeepSeek's text model demand potentially reflects broader market trends where visual content creation is gaining traction over text-based applications. This could influence investment and development priorities within the AI industry, as companies like Baidu and DeepSeek navigate the evolving demands of consumers and businesses.