"As we move into 2017, Baidu's strategic evolution from a mobile-first to an AI-first company continues to gain momentum." There was a time when Baidu, Inc. (BIDU) was primarily a Chinese language Internet search provider, often dubbed as the'Google of China.' In recent years, Baidu embarked on a new journey that makes it a search, artificial intelligence (AI), and autonomous driving company that is working towards innovative, next-generation products and revenue streams. Baidu is leading the AI revolution in the mainland with huge investments, collaborations and acquisitions. AI technologies encompass deep learning, image recognition, computer vision, robotics, collaborative systems, machine learning and natural learning process, among other things.

In the race to develop self-driving technology, Chinese Internet giant Baidu unveiled its 50 partners in an open source development program, revised its timeline for introducing autonomous driving capabilities on open city roads, described the Project Apollo consortium and its goals, and declared Apollo to be the'Android of the autonomous driving industry'. At a developer's conference last week in Beijing, Baidu described its plans and timetable for its self-driving car technology. It will start test-driving in restricted environments immediately, before gradually introducing fully autonomous driving capabilities on highways and open city roads by 2020. Baidu's goal is to get those vehicles on the roads in China, the world's biggest auto market, with the hope that the same technology, embedded in exported Chinese vehicles, can then conquer the United States. To do so, Baidu has compiled a list of cooperative partners, a consortium of 50 public and private entities, and named it Apollo, after NASA's massive Apollo moon-landing program. The program is making its autonomous car software open source in the same way that Google released its Android operating system for smartphones.

Chinese internet firm Baidu Inc has agreed to acquire US computer vision firm xPerception for an undisclosed amount to support their renewed efforts in artificial intelligence as Chinese tech firms face regulatory headwinds in the United States. "The acquisition of xPerception is the latest in a recent series of notable investments aimed at strengthening Baidu's position as a global leader in AI," it said. Baidu is targeting foreign personnel and technology as part of a wider drive to refocus company resources on developing artificial intelligence capabilities. Revenues from the firm's core search unit took a beating last year when the Chinese government tightened online ad regulations, culling a chunk of existing advertisers with new eligibility requirements. The announcement comes as other Chinese tech firms struggle with regulatory push-back on acquisitions in the US market.

FILE PHOTO - Baidu's company logo is seen at its headquarters in Beijing December 17, 2014. BEIJING Chinese internet firm Baidu Inc has agreed to acquire U.S. computer vision firm xPerception for an undisclosed amount to support their renewed efforts in artificial intelligence as Chinese tech firms face regulatory headwinds in U.S. "The acquisition of xPerception is the latest in a recent series of notable investments aimed at strengthening Baidu's position as a global leader in AI," it said. Baidu is targeting foreign personnel and technology as part of a wider drive to refocus company resources on developing artificial intelligence capabilities. Revenues from the firm's core search unit took a beating last year when the Chinese government tightened online ad regulations, culling a chunk of existing advertisers with new eligibility requirements. The announcement comes as other Chinese tech firms struggle with regulatory push-back on acquisitions in the U.S. market.