China’s tech giant Baidu has launched BaiduWiki, a new AI encyclopedia for global users. The platform aims to compete with Wikipedia and marks Baidu’s strong push into international markets.
BaiduWiki is the global version of Baidu Baike, an online encyclopedia started in 2008. Baidu Baike has grown into one of the largest knowledge platforms in China and hosts more than 30 million entries as of January.
The new BaiduWiki currently offers around one million entries. It supports English, Spanish, French, Russian, and Japanese. Baidu used several AI tools to translate and prepare the content. The company quietly launched the platform earlier this week.
Baidu built this AI encyclopedia using its ERNIE AI model, which also powers Ernie Assistant, Baidu’s chatbot. Ernie Assistant has more than 200 million monthly active users.
This week, the Chinese tech giant also added a new global search feature to Ernie Assistant. The feature provides users with quick access to worldwide information. It covers tourist spots and destinations. Reports suggest Baidu plans to expand global search into technology and academic topics.
Industry experts see this move as part of Baidu’s global growth plan. Analyst Zhang Yi said Baidu wants to close information gaps between China and the rest of the world. Many Chinese companies are now expanding overseas. Language barriers often create challenges, but BaiduWiki may help solve this problem.
Unlike Wikipedia, which depends on volunteers to edit content, BaiduWiki uses AI to create and update articles. This system allows faster updates. It may also help keep information fresh. However, global users may still question content accuracy and neutrality.
Baidu has shifted its focus toward AI in recent years. The company shut down the standalone Baike app in 2024. It now focuses more on AI-driven products. ERNIE 4.0 ranks among the leading Chinese AI models.
Wikipedia receives about 67 million monthly visits worldwide. BaiduWiki now enters this competitive space. Wikipedia has remained blocked in mainland China since 2019. Baidu dominates the local knowledge market. Now the company wants global recognition.
Experts believe BaiduWiki may also support Baidu’s other businesses. These include AI cloud services and digital advertising. The platform could help Baidu build a stronger global presence.
BaiduWiki shows China’s growing ambition in global AI platforms. The coming months will show whether international users adopt this new AI encyclopedia.