Microsoft’s AI-powered Bing has 100 million users

The news: Microsoft’s Bing search engine is experiencing a renaissance in usage thanks to its OpenAI-powered chat feature, per Gizmodo.

• Microsoft celebrated its 100 million daily active user milestone this week.
• Bing has registered more than 45 million chats since the preview began February 7. 

Our take: While 100 million active Bing users is a far cry from Google’s 1 billion daily active user count, it places Microsoft in the ongoing race to dominate generative AI.

AI startup Anthropic raises $300 million to compete against ChatGPT

The news: Anthropic, which was founded by former OpenAI executives, raised another $300 million, putting the company’s valuation at $4.1 billion, per The Information. 

• Google was an early stakeholder, investing $400 million and taking a 10% stake,
• Anthropic’s AI chatbot, Claude, was focused primarily on safety and ethics, but the company is now reportedly pivoting toward commercial opportunities.

Our take: Expect continued investments in generative AI startups. The segment raised $920 million in 2022—up 35% YoY, according to Pitchbook data.

Baidu is a week away from launching its ChatGPT competitor

The news: Baidu, which is acknowledged as China’s answer to Google, is sprinting to prepare its AI-powered chatbot, Ernie, but is reportedly struggling to get it to perform basic functions, per The Wall Street Journal.

• There’s intensifying pressure for companies in China to match or surpass technologies like popular generative AI.
• The search giant is scrambling to catch up with the likes of Google and Microsoft, as well as Chinese startups in the AI space. 

Our take: Baidu has one opportunity to take the lead in generative AI, at least in China. News of Ernie’s struggles has already led to shares falling 4%, per Seeking Alpha.

This article originally appeared in Insider Intelligence's Connectivity & Tech Briefing—a daily recap of top stories reshaping the technology industry. Subscribe to have more hard-hitting takeaways delivered to your inbox daily.

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