China’s Baidu, Xiaomi in AI pact to create smart connected devices

The two technology companies are joining forces to develop advanced new consumer electronics products that aim to increase the adoption of artificial intelligence around the world.

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Baidu, China’s dominant online search service, is stepping up its efforts in artificial intelligence through a new alliance with electronics start-up Xiaomi. The two companies plan to develop new AI-powered smart connected devices that would form part of the rapidly growing internet of things around the world. Photo: Reuters

Published: 3:30pm, 28 Nov 2017Updated: 11:07pm, 28 Nov 2017

Chinese online search giant Baidu is teaming up with major smartphone supplier Xiaomi to develop advanced consumer electronics products powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and connected to the internet of things (IoT).

The two companies announced their collaboration at Xiaomi’s first IoT Developer Conference on Tuesday in Beijing, where senior management laid out their vision of smart devices that will deliver what they expect as more enhanced experience to users.

It is an alliance that could play to each company’s strength: Baidu has been making an aggressive transition to becoming an AI-first technology company, while Xiaomi has said it has more than 85 million connected devices based on the range of products that it sells – including smartphones, laptop computers, air purifiers, robot vacuum cleaners, coffee makers and electric scooters.

More importantly, their cooperation comes on the heels of the Chinese government’s initiative to foster a highly innovative and competitive domestic AI market, which it forecast to be worth about US$150 billion by 2030.

Lei Jun, the founder and chief executive of Xiaomi, introduced in Beijing last month its new ceramic Mi Mix 2 smartphone. The company’s family of Mi-brand devices include a smart television, laptop computer, electric scooter and robot vacuum cleaner. Photo: Simon Song

Lu Qi, the vice-chairman and chief operating officer at Baidu, said the company’s pact with Xiaomi will lead to the next stage of AI development in China.

With more than 60 years of international development behind it, AI is an umbrella term covering several related technologies that include machine learning, cognitive computing, natural language processing and so-called neural networks.

IoT represents a super network of networks, enabled by internet-linked sensors embedded in everyday objects that gather, send and receive data, as well as controlled via mobile application.