The landscape of AI development is undergoing a fascinating transformation as prominent companies unveil their new models and offerings. In a surprising twist, two leading closed-source models are set to become freely accessible to users, marking a significant shift in the AI industry.

On February 13th, Baidu announced through its official microblogging platform that its conversational AI model, Wenxin Yiyuan (or "Wenxin One"), will be available for free starting April 1st. This announcement was complemented by OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman, who revealed on the social media platform X that the upcoming models, GPT-4.5 and GPT-5, would also be offered without charge to users. These two developments indicate a trend wherein key players in the AI field are moving towards greater accessibility and enhanced user engagement.

The immediate financial response to this news was notable. Baidu's stock saw an increase of over 10%, reaching approximately 97.9 Hong Kong dollars per share. This surge reflects investor confidence in the company's decision to make its advanced models available for free, potentially broadening its user base significantly.

What does this mean for users? Essentially, functionalities that were previously reserved for paid subscribers—such as processing lengthy documents, advanced text composition, enhanced professional retrieval, and advanced AI-generated art—will now be accessible to all users without any cost. Furthermore, Baidu announced that it will also introduce a deep search function that will be activated simultaneously, enriching the user experience with advanced capabilities in content delivery and task execution.

This deep search capability promises to elevate user interaction by providing expert-level responses and achieving multimodal input and output, aligning with the growing expectation for AI tools to support complex queries across various scenarios. Users can currently explore this feature on the Wenxin Yiyuan official website, with plans for an app release forthcoming.

For those concerned about the transition from paid memberships, Baidu assures users that they will address refund inquiries expediently, particularly for active subscriptions as of February 13, 2025. This proactive measure aims to cultivate goodwill among users and maintain trust in their evolving offerings.

The world of AI does not stand still, however. The anticipation surrounding OpenAI's forthcoming GPT-5 model has been palpable. As outlined by Altman, free users will have access to an unrestricted version of GPT-5, albeit with certain usage limitations to prevent abuse. Paid users, on the other hand, will unlock deeper research capabilities and heightened intelligence levels, representing a tiered approach to user engagement and service delivery.

OpenAI is bringing together an array of core technologies into GPT-5, including capabilities for voice interaction, creative canvassing, real-time searching, and deep analytical functions. This integration is designed to expand its application scope, allowing for a more nuanced interaction with users. By launching GPT-4.5 as a transitional tool in the coming weeks, OpenAI positions itself to drive forward with GPT-5 later, which Altman describes as a significant game-changer.

Investors and industry enthusiasts are particularly interested in the implications of these innovations. Baidu's founder, Li Yanhong, has noted that the costs associated with large models are declining dramatically, potentially by over 90% annually. This steep reduction indicates not merely a trend but a fundamental shift in how AI technologies operate within various platforms, benefiting businesses and users alike.

Platforms including Baidu Cloud, Huawei Cloud, Alibaba Cloud, Tencent Cloud, and several others are now integrating the new DeepSeek models, with major international players like Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Nvidia expressing interest in collaboration. This ongoing development underscores the competitive dynamics at play in the AI realm, where companies are vying to establish themselves by adopting innovative models that enhance overall user experience.

On the international stage, Li Yanhong's remarks during his participation in the 2025 World Government Summit in Dubai have resonated widely. He emphasized that fostering an environment conducive to innovation is paramount, asserting that historical trends linking cost reductions to innovations spur a surge in productivity across all sectors—not just AI or IT. He pointed out the accelerating pace of innovation today compared to past decades, particularly in the context of cost management in language models.

Moreover, Sam Altman's remarks about DeepSeek underline a rapidly shifting paradigm within the industry. While he appreciates the capabilities of DeepSeek-R1, he emphasizes that OpenAI is on the verge of releasing more advanced models. His acknowledgment of DeepSeek's rise—considered somewhat unexpected—highlights the increasingly competitive landscape, where functionality and user needs will dictate success.

As AI continues to evolve, the dual announcements from Baidu and OpenAI serve as a harbinger for greater accessibility and a shift toward fostering a more engaged user community. This trend not only democratizes access to powerful technology but potentially reshapes the competitive landscape, inviting new entrants while challenging incumbents to innovate and improve. As these leading figures in AI adjust their strategies, users can look forward to a wealth of enhanced functionalities and deeper interactions with AI that were once reserved for a select few.

In conclusion, the move towards free access to advanced AI models by both Baidu and OpenAI represents a pivotal moment in the ongoing evolution of artificial intelligence. It signals not just a change in tactics but an acknowledgment of the fundamental value of wider access to AI capabilities, promising a future where innovation thrives by embracing broader participation and collective advancement.