iFlytek's journey from the bottom to the top of China's voice AI industry · TechNode

In June, MIT Technology Review ranked the Chinese AI company as the 6th smartest company in the world, just behind Google's parent company Alphabet and also the highest ranked Chinese company on the list. In November, the Chinese government announced plans (in Chinese) to build national AI platforms in partnership with four companies. The three other companies chosen were Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent. But it hasn't always been smooth sailing for iFlytek. Founded in 1999, the company almost changed tracks to go into real estate after experiencing failed products, low revenues and difficulties in securing funding early on.