Baidu develops its own version of ChatGPT, joining the global AI race

China’s Baidu (Baidu.com Inc., BIDU, 9888.HK) has joined the global race to commercialize next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) technology centered on technologies such as ChatGPT that could transform the internet.

Baidu is developing an AI-powered chatbot, similar to OpenAI’s popular ChatGPT, and plans to integrate it into the company’s main search engine in March, people familiar with the matter said.

The move would make Beijing-based Baidu one of only a handful of companies in the world with the technology of its own. The technology has created a buzz among consumers and businesses, and has put pressure on incumbents in related fields, who have begun updating their product development strategies.