How Chinese Internet Giant Baidu Uses Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

At the beginning of 2017, Chinese tech company Baidu, the largest provider of Chinese language internet search as well as other digital products and services, committed to emerging business sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. Since China has 731 million internet users, almost twice the U.S. population, Baidu's data set is capable of fueling AI algorithms to make them even better. With this focus on artificial intelligence, Baidu is exploring some very intriguing applications for artificial intelligence and machine learning including in their offices where facial recognition technology makes standard ID cards unnecessary and allows you to order tea from a vending machine. They have also recruited top AI talent including one of the world's most notable AI pioneers Lu Qi, who was previously a Microsoft executive before he became Baidu's COO in January 2017. Qi will step down in July 2018 for personal reasons.