Baidu founder Robin Li predicts ‘exponential’ boom in AI apps in 2025

Baidu founder Robin Li predicts ‘exponential’ boom in AI apps in 2025

The founder of Baidu, an artificial-intelligence (AI) pioneer in China that unveiled its own large language model (LLM) just months after OpenAI released ChatGPT, said AI applications would grow “exponentially” in 2025. Baidu’s investments in AI are expected to generate returns this year, according to Robin Li Yanhong, CEO of China’s largest search-engine operator, in … Read more

Baidu boasts strong AI user growth alongside launch of first smart glasses

Baidu boasts strong AI user growth alongside launch of first smart glasses

Baidu CEO Robin Li Yanhong touted strong user growth for its Ernie large language model (LLM) at the company’s annual conference where it debuted a pair of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered smart glasses, as China’s largest internet search firm jostles for attention in a sea of competitors. Li said at the event on Tuesday that its … Read more

Alibaba’s DingTalk launches new service bundled with AI features to boost productivity

Alibaba’s DingTalk launches new service bundled with AI features to boost productivity

The service called DingTalk 365 offers more than 10 features including AI-powered search, virtual assistant and automated reply, according to a DingTalk post published on Monday on the platform’s public WeChat account. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post. The search feature, for example, uses large language models – the technology underpinning generative AI (GenAI) … Read more

Hello, Jarvis? China’s new AI app stirs dreams of Tony Stark’s assistant becoming reality

Hello, Jarvis? China’s new AI app stirs dreams of Tony Stark’s assistant becoming reality

The fictional Jarvis – an acronym that stands for “Just a Rather Very Intelligent System” – is a sophisticated AI assistant that made its debut in the 2008 film Iron Man, in which it manages and operates the internal systems of Stark’s laboratory, home and superhero armours. Ant Group, the fintech affiliate of Alibaba Group … Read more

Baidu rebrands Ernie Bot as Wenxiaoyan in China to stand out from AI rivals

Baidu rebrands Ernie Bot as Wenxiaoyan in China to stand out from AI rivals

Baidu on Wednesday announced a rebranding of its flagship artificial intelligence (AI) app Ernie Bot, as the Chinese technology giant tries to distinguish itself in an increasingly crowded and competitive market. The Chinese renaming of Ernie Bot to “Wenxiaoyan” from “Wenxin Yiyan” reflects the tool’s positioning as a “new search” assistant, according to Xue Su, … Read more

Baidu posts flat second-quarter revenue as sluggish economy slowed advertising spending

Baidu posts flat second-quarter revenue as sluggish economy slowed advertising spending

Baidu’s Hong Kong-listed shares closed up 1.71 per cent to HK$86.45 on Thursday. A robotaxi, developed as part of Baidu’s Apollo Go autonomous driving project, seen on the road in Wuhan, capital of central Hubei province. Photo: AFP Although overall revenue edged down, Baidu said in a statement on Thursday that its non-marketing operations grew … Read more

Maths test stumps AI models: which number is bigger, 9.90 or 9.11?

Maths test stumps AI models: which number is bigger, 9.90 or 9.11?

The wave of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots allowed for public use in mainland China enables many users to create new content – including audio, code, images, simulations, videos and grammatically correct text – to entertain and help with everyday tasks. That demand has led to the local development of more than 200 large language models … Read more

As China’s AI bots show gender bias, developers point to flawed real-life model

As China’s AI bots show gender bias, developers point to flawed real-life model

Last month, at a forum in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, academics, industry observers and AI developers discussed gender bias in AI models and AI-generated content (AIGC), calling for more balanced data and better design, as well as for more equal rights in the real world. In recent years, China has been pushing its AI development along … Read more

Baidu ekes out modest quarterly revenue growth amid escalating generative AI competition in China

Baidu ekes out modest quarterly revenue growth amid escalating generative AI competition in China

Baidu, China’s search engine and artificial intelligence (AI) giant, reported 1 per cent revenue growth in the first quarter of 2024, in line with consensus estimates, as the Beijing-based company contends with heightened domestic competition amid efforts to commercialise its generative AI initiatives. The firm’s revenue reached 31.5 billion yuan (US$4.3 billion) during the quarter … Read more

Baidu’s self-driving project swerves to profit-chasing after burning cash for years

Baidu’s self-driving project swerves to profit-chasing after burning cash for years

Baidu’s loss-making autonomous-driving project Apollo will focus on generating revenue and profits after a seven-year testing phase, as the Chinese internet search giant pivots to generative artificial intelligence (AI), according to an internal letter written by the unit chief. While Baidu is one of the country’s leading players in self-driving vehicle technology, it has yet … Read more