Baidu has introduced Ernie 5.0, the latest version of its flagship AI model, at its annual technology conference in Beijing. This 'omnimodal native' neural network is designed to understand user commands across various media formats. Baidu's founder, Robin Li, highlighted the need for technological advancement while criticizing the current AI market structure, which he claims favors chip manufacturers over application developers. Meanwhile, Alibaba is set to update its AI-powered mobile app, Tongyi, to function more like ChatGPT, aiming to expand its global presence. The company also plans to enhance its consumer services under the Qwen brand, signaling a strategic push to strengthen its AI offerings.