Baidu Set to Launch Next-Gen AI Model “Ernie 5” in 2025

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Baidu, China’s leading tech company, is poised to unveil the next iteration of its AI model, Ernie 5, in the second half of 2025, according to a source familiar with the matter. The new model will introduce multimodal capabilities, enabling it to handle and convert various formats, including text, video, images, and audio.

This launch comes at a time of fierce competition in China’s AI sector, especially from the startup DeepSeek, which has gained attention for offering a reasoning model that competes with OpenAI’s GPT at a lower cost. Despite being an early adopter in AI with its Ernie model, Baidu has faced challenges in achieving widespread adoption, even though it claims that Ernie 4 rivals the capabilities of GPT-4.

Baidu’s AI models have lagged behind domestic competitors, including ByteDance’s Doubao chatbot and DeepSeek, in terms of user uptake. Baidu CEO Robin Li acknowledged at a recent Dubai conference that the rise of DeepSeek highlights the unpredictable nature of innovation. He also noted that investment in data centers and cloud infrastructure remains essential, even though DeepSeek has shown that AI models can be made more cost-efficient.

TeamViewer Sets Medium-Term Growth Targets After 1E Acquisition

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TeamViewer, the German software developer, revealed its medium-term revenue growth goals on Wednesday following the completion of its $720 million acquisition of IT firm 1E, resulting in a 5% rise in its shares. The company forecasts that its revenue will reach between 1.03 billion and 1.06 billion euros ($1.07-$1.10 billion) by 2028, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 44% to 45%.

In the fiscal year 2024, TeamViewer reported revenue of 671 million euros, maintaining a 44% adjusted EBITDA margin. After the announcement of its acquisition of 1E in December, TeamViewer’s shares initially faced a decline of over 20%, but have since gradually rebounded, supported by stronger-than-expected preliminary full-year results.

CEO Oliver Steil highlighted that while acquisitions are never inexpensive, the purchase of London-based 1E provides TeamViewer with blue-chip customers and enhances its presence in the U.S. market, offering strong synergy potential for both short- and long-term growth. TeamViewer’s enterprise business, contributing around 23% of total revenue, has been increasing in importance, with a 37% revenue rise in Q4 2024 to 45.5 million euros, primarily driven by seasonal factors.

The Americas, which account for roughly 35% of TeamViewer’s total revenue, have shown an improvement in customer sentiment following the U.S. presidential election, after a period of slower purchasing and uncertainty.

Trump’s Crypto Company Launches Strategic ‘Token Reserve’

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World Liberty Financial (WLF), a cryptocurrency platform with financial backing from President Donald Trump, announced the launch of a strategic token reserve aimed at supporting Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other leading cryptocurrencies. The reserve is designed to mitigate market volatility, enhance investment in decentralized finance projects, and create a well-capitalized foundation for the company. WLF also plans to establish partnerships with financial institutions to contribute tokenized assets to the reserve.

The announcement, posted on X, comes amid a growing interest from Trump and his family in capitalizing on the crypto space. In addition to WLF, the Trump family’s business ventures now include a controlling stake in Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), a media and streaming company that recently pivoted to include financial services related to crypto.

Trump’s ventures into the world of crypto also include the launch of the $Trump meme coin just before his presidential inauguration, which reportedly raised millions of dollars, including $100 million in fees alone. WLF’s token sales have already reached an estimated $500 million, according to Reuters.

Trump’s assets are held in a revocable trust managed by his children during his presidency. WLF, which launched two months ahead of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, is controlled by the Trump family, holding a 60% stake in the company and entitled to 75% of revenues and 22.5 billion tokens.

This move follows a surprise appearance by Donald Trump Jr. at the Ondo Summit in New York, where WLF’s founders outlined their vision of bridging the gap between crypto and traditional finance. Trump Jr. emphasized the need for a regulatory framework to allow crypto to thrive, calling it “the future of finance” and vital to maintaining “American hegemony.”