How to Use ERNIE Bot in 2026: Step-by-Step Guide
Baidu's conversational AI assistant and large language model, offering Chinese and English text generation, multimodal capabilities, and integration with China's search ecosystem.
ERNIE Bot (文心一言, Wenxin Yiyan) is Baidu's conversational AI assistant built on the ERNIE (Enhanced Representation through kNowledge IntEgration) series of large language models. Launched in March 2023 after extensive anticipation, it is the dominant AI assistant in China and one of the most widely used AI services globally by user count.
ERNIE 4.0 capabilities: The current generation (ERNIE 4.0, launched October 2023, with successive updates) supports text generation, summarization, translation, coding, mathematical reasoning, and document understanding. ERNIE 4.0 Turbo offers faster response times for conversational tasks while maintaining output quality.
Multimodal features: ERNIE Bot includes image understanding (analyze and describe photos), image generation (text-to-image using Baidu's ERNIE-ViLG model), and document analysis (extract information from uploaded PDFs and images). The multimodal capabilities were added through 2024 and continue to expand.
Chinese language strength: ERNIE's most significant advantage over Western competitors is its native Chinese language capability — not translated from English, but trained on Chinese-language content with deep understanding of Chinese idiom, cultural context, and contemporary usage. It handles classical Chinese references, regional expressions, and nuanced political sensitivities (with appropriate guardrails).
Baidu ecosystem integration: ERNIE Bot connects to Baidu Search for real-time web information, Baidu Maps for location queries, and Baidu's broader service ecosystem. This integration gives ERNIE access to current information in ways that closed model systems cannot match.
Access: ERNIE Bot is available at yiyan.baidu.com (primarily in Chinese). Mobile apps are available in China. API access is available through Baidu's ERNIE Bot API for developers, with competitive pricing for Chinese-language applications.
Geopolitical context: ERNIE Bot operates under Chinese AI regulations, including content restrictions consistent with Chinese law. It is not suitable for applications requiring discussion of politically sensitive topics under Chinese law. Western users will find the experience different from global AI assistants; its primary value is Chinese-language tasks and applications serving Chinese-speaking users.
What You'll Need
- A ERNIE Bot account (free to create)
- A modern web browser or the ERNIE Bot app
- Payment method for paid features
Getting Started
Create Your Account
Visit https://yiyan.baidu.com and sign up for a freemium account. You'll need an email address to register. A free tier is available — you can upgrade later for more features.
Start Your First Conversation
Once logged in, you'll see the main chat interface. Type a question or task in the input box and press Enter. ERNIE Bot supports text, search, image-generation, translation, Chinese-language — start with a simple text prompt to get familiar.
Natural Language Chat
Type your question or task in natural language. ERNIE Bot excels at understanding context and providing helpful, detailed responses.
Real-Time Web Search
ERNIE Bot can search the web in real time. Ask about current events, recent news, or request up-to-date information that may not be in the model's training data.
AI Translation
ERNIE Bot can translate video or audio content into multiple languages, including voice dubbing that matches the speaker's lip movements. Select your target language and let it process the source content.
Pro Tips
- Be specific: The more context you provide, the better the response. Instead of "write an email," try "write a professional follow-up email to a client who hasn't responded in two weeks."
- Iterate: If you don't get what you need, ask for clarification or refinement: "Make it shorter" or "Use a more formal tone."
- Use examples: Show ERNIE Bot what format you want by including an example in your prompt.
- Save useful conversations: Most platforms let you name and revisit conversations — organize by project or topic.
Common Use Cases
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All-purpose AI assistants for everyday questions, tasks, and conversations.
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- Responses seem generic or unhelpful
- Add more context to your prompt. Specify the audience, tone, length, and format you need. Try starting over with a clearer description of your goal.
- The tool isn't responding or is slow
- AI chatbots can experience high traffic. Refresh the page and try again. Check the service's status page if issues persist.
- Output is too long or too short
- Explicitly specify the length: "in 100 words," "as a brief summary," or "in detail with examples."
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is ERNIE Bot free to use?
- ERNIE Bot has a free tier. Paid plans start from Free.
- Do I need an account to use ERNIE Bot?
- Yes, you need to create an account to use ERNIE Bot.
- What can I use ERNIE Bot for?
- Baidu's conversational AI assistant and large language model, offering Chinese and English text generation, multimodal capabilities, and integration with China's search ecosystem.
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