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Baidu Unveils iRAG and No-Code Tool Miaoda to Drive AI Application Boom

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–       The new iRAG technology mitigates hallucinations in image generation, boosting the applicability of AI-generated images.
–       Miaoda is a no-code tool that enables users to build applications using simple natural language.
–       ERNIE now handles 1.5 billion daily API calls, marking an exceptional 30-fold growth over the previous year.

SHANGHAI, Nov. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Baidu, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU and HKEX: 9888), a leading AI company with strong Internet foundation, today hosted its annual flagship technology conference Baidu World 2024 in Shanghai. At the event, the company announced a range of new AI technologies and solutions to accelerate the boom of AI applications, featuring iRAG (Image-Based Retrieval-Augmented Generation), a new technology designed to tackle hallucinations in image generation, and Miaoda, a no-code tool that empowers businesses and individuals to create applications.

The launch comes amid surging demand for Baidu’s AI offerings, as evidenced by the ERNIE foundation model’s daily API calls reaching 1.5 billion by early November. This represents a substantial 30-fold increase from the 50 million announced a year ago.

“The growth rate exceeded my expectations,” said Robin Li, Co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of Baidu, who described the steep increase as a reflection of the explosive growth in generative AI applications in China over the past two years.

Looking ahead, Li emphasized that agents will serve as the predominant form of AI applications and are approaching a tipping point of explosive growth. Underscoring this point, Li introduced the Top 100 Agents and Top 100 Industry Applications on the ERNIE AgentBuilder platform.

Baidu World 2024 also highlighted the latest user growth for ERNIE Bot, ERNIE’s expanding role in enterprise applications, and featured the debut of Xiaodu AI Glasses by Xiaodu Technology.

New iRAG Technology to Mitigate Hallucinations in Image Generation

Hallucinations, a phenomenon in which AI generates false or misleading information, have remained one of the most intractable barriers to the widespread adoption of generative AI. In text generation, RAG technology has largely resolved the problem of hallucinations, greatly enhancing the accuracy of generated answers. However, in the field of multimodality, hallucinations remain a key obstacle, often manifesting as inaccurate depictions of people or landmarks.

Baidu’s newly launched iRAG technology can mitigate hallucinations in text-to-image generation. Leveraging Baidu Search’s vast collection of hundreds of millions of images and the company’s strong foundation model capabilities, the new technology enables text-to-image models to deliver hyper-realistic visuals while also significantly reducing the cost of image production. The ability of the iRAG to reduce hallucinations boosts the applicability of images generated by text-to-image models across visual mediums, including comics, storyboards, posters, among others. Li described the reduction of hallucinations as laying the groundwork for the coming boom in AI applications.

Miaoda: Building Applications with Natural Language

Baidu also unveiled Miaoda, a no-code tool that makes it possible to build entire applications simply by describing them in natural language. Miaoda provides no-code programming, multi-agent collaboration, and multi-tool invocation. No-code programming allows anyone to generate code without writing a single line, lowering barriers to AI development and making it accessible to all. Its multi-agent collaboration leverages ERNIE’s thinking and planning capabilities to coordinate and manage different agents effectively, while its multi-tool invocation taps into ERNIE’s tool invocation abilities, extensively utilizing web search, iRAG, maps API, and other tools for a seamless workflow.

“Baidu isn’t aiming to launch a ‘super app’; instead, we aim to help more people and businesses create millions of ‘super useful’ applications,” Li said.

Mirroring the real-world product development process, Miaoda draws on the abilities of different agents across multiple domains such as project management and planning, content editing, programming and quality control. Miaoda can even automatically identify bugs and use a range of tools. Li called it “the most complex application case of multi-agent collaboration to date”.

Miaoda empowers everyone with the capabilities of a programmer – anyone who can speak, can create applications, greatly enhancing human productivity.

Agents as the Next Frontier in AI Application 

“Today, while all leading global tech firms are paying attention to agents, few have made them as central to their strategy as Baidu has,” Li said at the event. He likened the potential of agents to websites in the PC era and social media accounts in the mobile age.

“Agents are more human-like, more intelligent, and act like your sales, customer service representatives, or assistants. Agents will become a new vehicle for content, information and services,” Li added.

Four types of agents – company, character, tool, and industry – were highlighted at the event to demonstrate the potential of agents in the AI era. Company agents, for example, differ from traditional websites that only show static company and product information, and can instead proactively recommend products based on customer needs and respond promptly to service requests, greatly improving the efficiency of interactive marketing. After deploying an agent powered by ERNIE, automaker BYD saw a 119% increase in lead conversion.

Li also offered the example of the tool agent Free Canvas, developed in collaboration between Baidu Wenku and Baidu Drive. It allows users to drag and drop documents, audio, video, and other materials onto a canvas-like interface to quickly generate multimodal content. Similarly, the industry agent Faxingbao was specifically developed for the legal field. It has answered over 16.6 million legal questions and can also calculate compensation, draft legal documents, and recommend suitable lawyers.

To date, Baidu’s ERNIE AgentBuilder has garnered the interest of 150,000 businesses and 800,000 developers. The top 100 agents encompass character-based agents like the “Farmer Academician”, as well as agents for tools, industries, workplace, emotions, and entertainment.

Expanding ERNIE’s Reach with Growing Developer Community, Enterprise Applications and AI Glasses

Haifeng Wang, Chief Technology Officer of Baidu, announced that ERNIE Bot has amassed 430 million users, while the PaddlePaddle deep learning platform and ERNIE have a total of 18.08 million developers. Wang also mentioned that the ERNIE foundation model is still in training, with an even more powerful version worth looking forward to.

Dou Shen, Executive Vice President of Baidu and President of Baidu AI Cloud Group, highlighted that the Qianfan platform has helped customers fine-tune 33,000 models, and develop 770,000 enterprise applications. Shen noted that the explosion in new AI applications has begun on the enterprise front, supported by a new AI infrastructure comprising an enterprise-level foundation model engineering platform and a heterogeneous computing platform, poised to replace traditional cloud computing.

Ying Li, CEO of Xiaodu Technology, introduced Xiaodu AI Glasses, the first native AI glasses powered by a Chinese language foundation model. Powered by ERNIE and equipped with visual, audio, and location-based capabilities, these smart glasses serve as a versatile AI assistant across everyday scenarios. They function as a personal tour guide, offer information via Baidu Maps and Search, and excel in instant translation and content summarization from photos. Ideal for both academics and casual readers, they also assist with intelligent note-taking and can personalize music to enhance the user’s surroundings. Li revealed that Xiaodu AI Glasses will be available for sale in the first half of 2025.

About Baidu

Founded in 2000, Baidu’s mission is to make the complicated world simpler through technology. Baidu is a leading AI company with strong internet foundation, trading on the NASDAQ under “BIDU” and HKEX under “9888.” One Baidu ADS represents eight Class A ordinary shares.

Media Contact
intlcomm@baidu.com

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SOURCE Baidu, Inc.

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Global Times: The ‘engines’ behind China’s cultural ‘troika’: online dramas, games and novels

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BEIJING, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — “Watching this drama throws me back to my school days when I used to watch many films and dramas from Hong Kong.” “I even tried the snacks mentioned in the novel, indulging in the same treats while reading.” Such online comments about Chinese cultural works on overseas social media and review platforms are fairly common. Audiences around the world are increasingly sharing reviews and forming online communities around China’s popular cultural products, especially online literature, games and dramas, despite physical distances.

Online dramas, games and novels have been seen as the “troika” of Chinese culture winning global audiences, according to reports such as the Report on the Development of Chinese Online Literature released by the Institute of Literature, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Rooted in rich traditional culture and aligned with shared human values and sentiments, a growing number of cultural works in the realms of this “troika” have thrived, thanks in part to convenient channels of communication. These works not only showcase the uniqueness and allure of Chinese culture but also foster deeper connections among people around the globe.

Since Wednesday, international audiences on Netflix have been able to watch the thriller series See Her Again, centered on the fight between evil and justice, simultaneously with Chinese viewers on domestic video platform Tencent. This synchronized release has provided audiences with the opportunity to engage in real-time discussions about the drama across various review platforms.

Netizens have flocked to platforms like MyDramaList and Reddit to share their thoughts on the plot, background music, and characters in the drama, often receiving responses from other users.

“I can’t wait for the next episode. Wondering who is the real culprit. I’m on ep 10. I like time travel dramas. For me the storyline is interesting,” commented one viewer. Reviews like these are often upvoted by other netizens. These positive reactions are reflected in the drama’s viewership numbers on Netflix, where it has climbed to the Top 4 on the popularity list for Singapore.

“The online drama showcasing the local social atmosphere and customs also seeks to discuss the common values and shared emotions of all of humanity such as seeking the truth, protecting loved ones and upholding justice. This is the main reason that the work can stand out and attract audiences in different regions,” Shi Wenxue, a veteran cultural critic based in Beijing, told the Global Times on Monday.

“This is just like the hit online game Black Myth: Wukong,” Shi added, noting that the success stories of these remarkable cultural works across various forms share common factors.

The game secured top honors at the 2024 Golden Joystick Awards on Friday, winning “Ultimate Game of the Year” and “Best Visual Design,” while earning additional nominations for “Best Game Direction,” “Best Action Game,” and “Best Art Direction.” The results evoked cheers among international players, many of whom noted that this game deserves its reputation.

Shi noted that rooted in Chinese classics and traditional legends, Chinese game developers have been striving to weave compelling narratives with distinct Chinese characteristics through games. In doing so, they have created an expansive world view and values that resonate with global youth, contributing to the global success of their works.

Zhang Peng, a cultural researcher and associate professor at Nanjing Normal University, attributed Chinese online literature’s growing popularity overseas to its rich Chinese cultural elements, common spirit and innovative promulgation channels.

“Chinese online literature integrates diverse media and forms a diverse path of global dissemination. Besides this, the protagonists’ spirit such as persistence and wisdom in these works, along with the rich elements of traditional Chinese culture, render them highly captivating and influential, enabling overseas readers to gain a better understanding of China,” Zhang told the Global Times on Monday.

By the end of 2023, the number of Chinese online literature readers had reached a record 537 million, with the overseas market for this genre surpassing 4 billion yuan ($552 million) and spanning over 200 countries and regions.

Jose from Peru, Hoan from Poland and Vaishnu Ojha from India are representatives of the numerous readers of Chinese web novels. They are loyal followers of the hit Chinese web novel Lord of the Mysteries, a top-ranked fantasy, adventure and steampunk thriller that has amassed over 47 million views on WebNovel.

The three readers of the novel have formed a 24,000-member group on Facebook run by Vaishnu Ojha. They discuss classic passages in the book and share their reviews of newly released content with other group members around the world. For them, the online group has been a spiritual home or a joyful base to communicate with peers.

Zhang noted that as important carriers of Chinese culture, online literature, games and dramas allow global readers to access and understand Chinese culture through unique stories and cultural elements, thereby enhancing their understanding and awareness of Chinese culture.

“The global popularity of the ‘troika’ demonstrates the need for us to pay greater attention to the power of the internet and to fully leverage its advantage in disseminating Chinese culture. This approach will help foster a positive international atmosphere that respects Chinese history, appreciates Chinese culture, and understands the essence of the Chinese spirit,” said Zhang.

 

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SOURCE Global Times

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Creality Shines at Formnext 2024, Unveils K2 Plus, New CoreXY Model, and Accessories

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FRANKFURT, Germany, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Creality made a strong impression at Formnext 2024, continuing its legacy as a leading innovator in 3D printing technology. This year’s exhibit underscored Creality’s commitment to innovation and collaboration with a diverse range of solutions for both hobbyists and professionals.

Flagship Products and New Launches

Among Creality’s star attractions was the K2 Plus Combo, a major addition to the K1 Series. Offering a 350mm³ build volume, the K2 Plus enhances Creality’s flagship lineup with features like automatic filament identification, multi-filament support, and seamless loading/unloading. Powered by Creality OS and Edge AI, the K2 Plus provides exceptional print quality, active chamber heating, and smart monitoring.

The Ender-5 Max made its debut at the fair, designed for professional use with a 400mm³ build volume, auto bed leveling, and a robust all-metal frame. It is ideal for high-speed operations, reaching up to 700mm/s, and optimized for print farms with multi-printer management.

The Ender-3 V3 Plus also stole the spotlight, featuring a 300x300x330mm build area, advanced CoreXZ structure, and a next-gen extrusion system for faster, high-quality prints. Its automatic bed leveling and user-friendly touchscreen make it suitable for users of all levels. The Ender-3 V3, a compact version, also impressed with dual motors and a powerful cooling system, achieving speeds up to 600mm/s without compromising on quality. Both models will soon support Co Print for multi-filament printing.

Creality also showcased the Halot-Mage S, a top-tier resin printer with a 10.1″ 14K mono LCD and impressive print speeds of up to 150mm/h. Its uniform integral light source ensures sharp, precise prints, while Smart HALOT OS offers remote printing capabilities.

Ecosystem Upgrades

The Falcon A1, a compact, easy-to-use 3D printer, delivers speeds up to 600mm/s with auto material recognition and no assembly required, making it ideal for home use. Creality also highlighted the Creality RaptorX, a professional-grade 3D scanner with high precision (0.02mm) and modular design, perfect for large objects (5-4000mm).

Creality introduced several new filaments and resins, including Rainbow PLA for vibrant multi-color prints, Hyper PETG for outdoor models requiring high impact and chemical resistance, and PPA-CF, a high-temperature nylon filament reinforced with carbon fibers for industrial applications. New resins like Halot Rigid Resin and Plant-Based Resin expand Creality’s material ecosystem, offering higher performance, eco-friendliness, and ease of use.

Industrial Solutions by PioCreat

Creality’s industrial arm, PioCreat, showcased its advanced solutions for large-scale and dental applications. The DJ89 PLUS resin printer, with an 8K LCD and integral light source, delivers high precision and automatic feeding. The G12 FGF Pellet 3D Printer features a massive build volume of 1200×1000×1000mm, perfect for molds and prototypes, while the G5Ultra, designed for educational and research purposes, uses cost-effective thermoplastic pellets.

Engaging Attendees and Partners

Creality also launched a “Life is Colorful, Just Like You” social media campaign, offering attendees the chance to interact with products and receive 3D-printed souvenirs. The company’s models were also featured at partner booths, including Sunlu, Kexcelled, Keli, BASF, and eSUN. Creality further engaged the global audience through live-streaming and interviews with leading media outlets such as All3DP and 3Dnatives.

Commitment to the Global Market

Mr. TANG Jingke, Co-founder of Creality, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to the European market, emphasizing its growing presence and partnerships within the region. “Our participation at Formnext highlights our dedication to advancing 3D printing technology and deepening our engagement with Europe’s manufacturing and tech sectors. We look forward to fostering global collaborations and driving the future of 3D printing,” he stated.

For more information on Creality’s innovations and products, visit their official website.

CONTACT: brand@creality.com

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MARINTEC INNOVATION CONFERENCE 2024: Charging the Future with Alternative Energy Sources

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HONG KONG, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Gear up for Marintec Innovation Conference 2024, the definitive maritime technology and innovation event organised by Informa Markets and SSNAME, happening on 12 – 13 December at the Shanghai Renaissance Zhongshan Park Hotel. This year’s theme, “Alternative Energy and Fuels Contribute to Low Carbon Maritime,” underscores the industry’s dedication to sustainable practices and groundbreaking advancements. 

Distinguished Speakers and Industry Experts

Prepare to be inspired by an impressive lineup of speakers from some of the most influential organisations in the maritime industry. These panels will delve into critical topics such as:

“Alternative Energy and Fuels Review and Outlook”: Exploring the latest developments in renewable energy sources and their integration into maritime operations.”Sailing Efficiency – Shipowner’s Perspective”: Offering practical strategies for improving operational efficiency from leading shipowners.”Industry Chain Support”: Highlighting the collaborative efforts across the maritime value chain to support these innovations.

Notable speakers include:

ABB Marine & Ports, Switzerland: Mr. Meng Desheng, Sales DirectorAlfa Laval (Shanghai) Technologies Co Ltd, Denmark: Mr. James Le, President of Marine DivisionChina Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry, China: Mr. Li Yanqing, Secretary GeneralChina Merchants Energy Shipping, China: Mr. Wu Jianyi, Technical DirectorCSSC Shanghai Marine Energy Saving Technology Co Ltd, China: Mr. Zhang Xiaosong, Deputy Chief of R&D DepartmentCSSC Silent Electric System (Wuxi) Technology Co Ltd, China: Mr. Guo Wei, Deputy General ManagerDNV, Norway: Mr. Jason Liu Xiaofeng, Head of Smart Centre / Deputy Head of Technical Centre ChinaHeadway Technology Group (Qingdao) Co Ltd, China: Mr. Zhang Zongkai, Project Manager of the R&D CenterInmarsat Maritime, United Kingdom: Mr. William Ku, Regional Director, Asia PacificInternational Chamber of Shipping – ICS, United Kingdom: Mr. Guy Platten, Secretary GeneralInternational Windship Association – IWSA, United Kingdom: Mr. Gavin Allwright, Secretary GeneralJotun, Norway: Mr. Christer Lorentz Øpstad (Ph.D.), Global R&D Director – Fouling ProtectionKongsberg Maritime, Norway: Mr. Carl Magne Rustand, Country Manager – Greater ChinaMaersk, Denmark: Mr. Karim Fahssis, Maersk Decarbonisation China HeadRINA Italy Classification Society (China) Co Ltd, China: Mr. Fang Peng, Head of RINA Greater China Excellence CentreTrelleborg Marine Engineering (Qingdao) Co Ltd, China: Mr. Andrew Stafford, Technical DirectorUlstein, Norway: Mr. Kirk Du, Deputy Managing DirectorWikborg Rein Advokatfirma AS: Mr. Bård Bjerken, Managing Associate and Shanghai Representative

These panel discussions will provide attendees with invaluable insights and practical knowledge from leading experts, fostering a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the maritime sector.

Innovation on Display

In complement to the compelling sessions and expert speakers, the event will feature sponsors such as Bestway, Bicentric Technology, Shanghai Moury Marine Equipment, Shanghai SIBO Automation, Shanghai Tonghe Marine Equipment, Sonyo Appliances Refrigeration System, Zhenjiang Tongzhou Propeller and others showcasing their cutting-edge innovations.

A Hub for Maritime Innovation

Over and above the conference sessions, the Marintec Innovation Conference 2024 will offer numerous networking opportunities, including dedicated networking sessions and an exclusive closing dinner. These events will enable attendees to build valuable connections, exchange ideas, and forge partnerships that will drive the future of maritime technology.

Registration and Additional Information

Registration for the Marintec Innovation Conference 2024 is now open. For more information about the conference program and speakers, please visit the official conference website at www.marintecchina.com.

Call to Action

It is time to invest in and adopt alternative energy. By working together, we can meet the challenges and lead the industry into a sustainable, zero-carbon future. This conference is a movement towards a greener world for generations to come.

Marintec Innovation Conference Background:

Following its inaugural edition in 2017 during Marintec China, the Marintec Innovation Conference will be held in December of even-numbered years at the Shanghai Renaissance Zhongshan Park Hotel. Organised by Informa Markets and SSNAME, Marintec Innovation continues to provide a unique platform for fostering interactions on diverse findings and advancements in the maritime industry through collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Marintec Innovation’s Themes

2017: Cruise Shipbuilding at Marintec China
2018: International Marine Intelligent Energy Efficiency Technology
2020: The Fourth Industrial Revolution at Sea
2022: Defining the Path to Decarbonisation
2024: Alternative Energy and Fuels Contribute To Low-carbon Maritime

Organisers of Marintec China:

Marintec China is organised and managed by Informa Markets and Shanghai Society of Naval Architects & Marine Engineers (SSNAME).

Informa Markets

Informa Markets creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate and grow. Our portfolio is comprised of more than 550 international B2B events and brands in markets including Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Infrastructure, Construction & Real Estate, Fashion & Apparel, Hospitality, Food & Beverage, and Health & Nutrition, among others. We provide customers and partners around the globe with opportunities to engage, experience and do business through face-to-face exhibitions, specialist digital content and actionable data solutions. As the world’s leading exhibitions organiser, we bring a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, please visit www.informamarkets.com

Shanghai Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SSNAME)

Shanghai Society of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineers (SSNAME), founded in early 1951, is the first scientific and technological society in the field of shipbuilding and marine engineering of the People’s Republic of China. SSNAME currently has 5,000 individual members and more than 60 group members. It has 5 working Committees, 11 Specialized Committees and 3 Representative offices. As an important non-governmental scientific and technological society with high reputation and influence in the international field of shipbuilding and marine engineering, SSNAME has been committed to promoting the progress of shipbuilding and marine engineering technology and international exchanges and cooperation. SSNAME has established closely cooperative relations with 14 well-known   overseas maritime engineering societies, such as SNAME, RINA, STG, JSNAOE, SNAK and so on. It is the initiator and first chairman of the Pan-Asian Association of Maritime Engineering Societies (PAAMES) and is also a member of the International Standing Committee of the World Maritime Technology Conference (WMTC). The “Xin Yixin Ship and Marine Engineering Science and Technology Innovation Award” founded by SSNAME has become an important award for scientific and technological talents. SSNAME organizes many academic exchanges, popular science and scientific and technological publication every year. For more information, please visit www.ssname.com.cn.

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