Ex-Google Brain head Andrew Ng to lead Baidu's artificial intelligence drive
Hiring of Andrew Ng, who led 'deep learning' project, highlights big plans of China firms
Chinese internet giant Baidu has hired top computer scientist Andrew Ng - once head of Google Brain, the American firm's "deep learning" project.
The recruitment of Ng, a pioneer in artificial intelligence, shows the big ambitions of China's leading technology companies.
Baidu has appointed Ng as chief scientist to head an expanded research operation in Beijing and its new labs in San Francisco. Ng will also lead the development of artificial intelligence.
Deep learning, regarded as the next big development in computer intelligence, refers to research that enables machines to simulate brain functions and process huge amounts of data.
He's highly intelligent ... a top researcher in machine learning
Analysts believe the major signing of such a big name will make it easier for Baidu to compete and attract further talent to take on Western technology giants in Silicon Valley as they poach top talent from American rivals.
Ng, a long-time Stanford researcher whose family is from Hong Kong, was a key member of Google's secretive project X - the same division that developed Google Glass and driverless car technology. He left Google last year to start his own company, Coursera, an online education start-up.