Baidu Inc (ADR) (NASDAQ:BIDU) has devised a new way of tapping more talent, which will in return help in advancing in artificial intelligence (AI). After parting ways with its most valuable AI scientist, China’s largest search engine provider is now seeking to expand its presence in the United States.
According to a Bloomberg report, the company will be opening a new research and development center, which will add a capacity of 150 employees to the existing 200 researchers. On the other hand, the company already has an existing office in Sunnyvale, California; hence the new research facility will be the second one.
Growth is becoming increasingly important for Baidu’s global strategy
AI development is one of the many things that Baidu has given top priority for purposes of revenue growth. It has previously lost ground to competitors in China but it is not relenting. As one of its global strategies, the company says that it is so eager to bring its AI solutions to the Chinese and the larger global market.
The company has prioritized the said technologies in its future roadmap to a point that it is offering incentives to its local researchers to achieve the goal. Currently, the company’s AI and machine learning efforts are in the hands of their President Ya-qin Zhang who is also a former Microsoft R&D executive.
China has the chance to become a leader in AI globally
There is real competition in offering the best AI. The likes of Google and Facebook already own advanced AI technologies and cannot match those of the Chinese. However, Zhang together with Baidu’s founder Li Yanhong are both in agreements that China has the potential of becoming a leader in AI globally.
Nonetheless, other than AI, Baidu is also working on a self-driving self-electric vehicle known as Chery eQ. It is also putting together a self-driving cloud-to-car computing platform In partnership with Nvidia, they will develop a host of solutions the likes of automated parking, HD maps, and Level 3 autonomous control. Meanwhile, Baidu’s stock closed at $168.26 a fall of $1.35 or 0.80%.
