Did you mean AI? Baidu

The leading Chinese-language browser is searching for a new identity--no longer plodding internet-service firm, but artificial-intelligence dynamo. Its ambition will be on display today in Beijing at Baidu Create 2018, the second year of an annual two-day shindig for AI developers. Awaiting attendees are the latest versions of Apollo, an open autonomous-driving platform, and DuerOS, Baidu's freshly minted AI assistant. Both were spearheaded by Lu Qi, a former Microsoft executive hired by Baidu as its star AI expert in early 2017--until he left in May. The firm's shares duly tumbled by 9.5%, the most in three years, and Credit Suisse downgraded them; investors were reminded of the premature departures of Andrew Ng, Baidu's former chief scientist, and Wang Jing, the head of its self-driving unit. Few expect Mr Lu's exit to force a drastic rethink at Baidu, but it could now take longer for its AI business to drive a profit.