This year, Baidu has intensified its focus on artificial intelligence (AI) research and development. According to recent reports, the company launched the "Baidu AI Accelerator" as a free initiative, aiming to empower developers to explore various AI applications and bring them to real-world use. It is reported that in the field of voice technology, Baidu continues to compete fiercely with other industry players.
As the year draws to a close, Baidu is determined to reignite momentum in its broader AI strategy. Recently, the company organized an AI developer bootcamp in Beijing, marking the fifth stop of its tour across cities like Shenzhen, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Shanghai, and Guangzhou this year. During the event, Baidu officially announced the launch of the "Baidu AI Accelerator," which functions as an incubator designed to support startups through technological input and resource allocation. The goal is to build a strong ecosystem around Baidu’s AI platform.
In the first phase of the accelerator, 22 startup teams were selected, covering areas such as smart home, agriculture, healthcare, justice, customer service, AI chips, and automotive services. These teams are expected to leverage Baidu's AI capabilities to drive innovation.
Over the past year, Baidu has taken several steps to attract developers. Its core strength lies in advanced AI technologies, including speech recognition, image processing, face detection, UNIT (a conversational AI platform), AR, and PaddlePaddle (its deep learning framework). Earlier this year, Baidu introduced initiatives like "Robot Vision Solution," "Face Hardware Partner Program," and a new billing model for face recognition interfaces. Additionally, it announced that all voice technology interfaces would be permanently free.
The move to open up these technologies is not just symbolic. So far, Baidu has made over 80 AI-related tools available to developers. For instance, its voice technology can handle up to 50,000 daily voice recognition requests, 200,000 voice synthesis calls, and support three custom wake-up words per day.
By opening up its AI platforms, Baidu aims to encourage developers to experiment with different AI applications. Some of these technologies are already integrated into Baidu Cloud products, allowing the cloud division to benefit from the growing demand for AI-powered solutions.
According to an insider at Baidu, the decision to offer these tools for free is driven by the belief that “there is no plan to make money at this stage.†Instead, the main concern is ensuring that the developed technologies are actually used and adopted.
Since adopting the “All in AI†strategy, Lu Qi has emphasized building an ecosystem through open collaboration. This approach was first demonstrated in the Apollo project, where Baidu opened its autonomous driving platform to the public. This strategic move reflects Lu Qi’s vision of fostering innovation through openness.
Compared to companies like Alibaba and Tencent, which have successfully integrated AI into e-commerce and social platforms, Baidu—primarily reliant on search and advertising—faces greater pressure to demonstrate tangible AI applications and prove its value to investors.
However, Baidu is not the only player in the AI space. For example, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is also actively competing in voice technology. In October, HKUST announced a 1.024 billion yuan fund to support developers with promising AI technologies. Meanwhile, Keda Xunfei has structured its AI ecosystem into multiple layers, including AI Eco Salon, AI Chuangchuang Space, and AI Diamond Team, offering comprehensive support from technology to capital.
Despite these efforts, Baidu still faces challenges, particularly in hardware. While its acquisition of Raven (now the Baidu Intelligent Hardware Division) is in early stages, the company recently launched a new product at the Baidu World Congress. Baidu has also partnered with Xiaomi to integrate its AI technology into Xiaomi’s smart devices.
Ultimately, the success of Baidu’s AI strategy will depend on how well it can build and maintain relationships with developers. A strong ecosystem could help compensate for any weaknesses in hardware and position Baidu as a leading force in the AI landscape.
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