Baidu
Baidu, Inc. is a leading Chinese technology company specializing in internet-related services, online advertising, and artificial intelligence. Often referred to as the "Google of China," Baidu operates the dominant Chinese-language search engine and has expanded into cloud computing, autonomous driving, and AI-powered applications.
AI Strategy
Baidu positions AI as its core strategic focus, investing heavily in foundational models, cloud-based AI services, and vertical applications such as autonomous driving, smart cities, and enterprise AI solutions. The company develops its own deep learning framework and large language models, integrates them into consumer and enterprise products, and partners with automakers and governments to deploy AI at scale across mobility and infrastructure.
Key AI Products
Financials
Funding
Business Focus
Competitive Analysis
Strengths
- •Dominant position in Chinese-language search and strong data assets for AI training
- •Deep in-house AI research capabilities, including foundational models and a proprietary deep learning framework (PaddlePaddle)
- •Integrated ecosystem spanning search, cloud, maps, autonomous driving, and smart devices
- •Strong government and industry partnerships in China, especially in autonomous driving and smart city projects
- •Significant long-term investment in autonomous driving via Apollo and robotaxi services
Challenges
- •High dependence on the Chinese market and regulatory environment, limiting global expansion
- •Intense competition from Tencent, Alibaba, ByteDance, and global AI leaders in cloud and AI services
- •Advertising revenue still a major contributor, making the business sensitive to macroeconomic and policy shifts
- •Global brand recognition and developer adoption lag behind US cloud and AI platforms
- •Autonomous driving commercialization timelines and regulatory uncertainties create long payback periods
Strategic Partnerships
Joint venture Jidu Auto (now Jiyue) to develop intelligent electric vehicles leveraging Baidu's Apollo autonomous driving and AI capabilities with Geely's manufacturing platform.
Collaboration to integrate BlackBerry QNX's safety-certified operating system with Baidu's Apollo autonomous driving platform for connected and autonomous vehicles.
Partnership under Baidu's Apollo program to co-develop autonomous driving technologies and test self-driving cars in China.
Collaboration to make Baidu's Apollo autonomous driving platform available on Microsoft Azure, targeting global developers and automakers.
Multiple partnerships with local governments (e.g., Beijing, Guangzhou, Chongqing) to deploy robotaxis, smart traffic systems, and autonomous bus services using Baidu's Apollo and AI cloud technologies.