Baidu (BIDU) Stock Soars as AI Model Claims Victory Over Google and OpenAI

TLDR

• Baidu (BIDU) stock jumped nearly 10% to a three-year high after launching Ernie 5.0 AI model
• Ernie 5.0 claims to outperform Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro and OpenAI’s GPT-5 in reasoning and comprehension
• The model features 2.4 trillion parameters and processes text, images, audio, and video
• Baidu’s AI assistant reached 200 million monthly active users in January 2026
• Analysts maintain a Strong Buy rating with 10 Buy and 2 Hold recommendations

Baidu shares rocketed nearly 10% on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The surge came after the Chinese tech company officially released Ernie 5.0, its most advanced AI model to date.

Baidu, Inc., BIDU

The stock reached HK$160.90, marking a new 52-week high. This extended an 8.2% gain on the Nasdaq from the previous trading session.

Baidu unveiled Ernie 5.0 at an AI conference in Shanghai. The model is now available on Baidu’s cloud platform for commercial use.

The company claims Ernie 5.0 beats Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro and OpenAI’s GPT-5. The model reportedly excels in reasoning, comprehension, and handling complex tasks.

Ernie 5.0 uses native full-modal modeling. This means it can seamlessly process text, images, audio, and video content.

The model packs 2.4 trillion parameters. This places it among the most powerful large language models on the market.

Baidu first showed off Ernie 5.0 in November 2025. The preview generated strong investor interest at the time.

On January 20, Baidu shared another milestone. Its AI assistant, powered by the Ernie large language model, crossed 200 million monthly active users.

The user numbers point to quick adoption of Baidu’s generative AI tools. The growth reflects China’s rapid embrace of AI technology.

Apollo Go Expands Globally

Baidu also launched its Apollo Go robotaxi service in Abu Dhabi. The commercial rollout marks the company’s first major international expansion of autonomous driving tech.

The dual announcements boosted investor confidence. Baidu’s moves show the company pushing hard into AI and self-driving vehicles.

Over the past two years, Baidu has poured resources into AI development. The company focused on foundational models, cloud services, and enterprise applications.

Analyst Outlook Remains Strong

Wall Street analysts are bullish on Baidu’s future. TipRanks shows a Strong Buy consensus rating based on 10 Buy and 2 Hold recommendations.

The average price target sits at $164.81. This suggests modest upside of 1.6% from current levels.

Baidu shares have climbed nearly 96% over the past year. The stock’s momentum reflects growing confidence in the company’s AI strategy.

Baidu’s Hong Kong-listed shares gained over 4% to HK$160.10 on Thursday. The Hang Seng index dropped 0.2% the same day, making Baidu’s performance stand out even more.

The Ernie 5.0 release cements Baidu’s position as a leader in China’s AI race. The company now directly challenges global tech giants in cutting-edge artificial intelligence.

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