The 2017 summer summit of the Yabuli China Entrepreneur Forum took place from August 18th to 20th in Yinchuan, Ningxia. During the event, in the segment highlighting the entrepreneurial spirit in China, Baidu's founder, Chairman, and CEO Li Yanhong engaged in a dialogue with Qin Hao.
An image accompanying the article shows Li Yanhong during the session (source: http://i.bosscdn.com/blog/fa/47/97/f14124fc3418905bda8f655c08.jpg). Li Yanhong emphasized that the influence of artificial intelligence will far surpass that of the Internet. At the time, there were no immediate practical applications for AI, which allowed him to foresee the arrival of the AI era early on. In 2013, Baidu established its Deep Learning Institute and began making significant investments in AI.
He expressed his belief that merely seeing potential is not enough for success; management, corporate culture, and other factors play crucial roles as well. He mentioned his intention to invest time in identifying any weaknesses within the company and working to improve them. Only then, he believes, will Baidu succeed in the AI era.
Li Yanhong also noted that while the Internet serves as a foreman, AI represents the main course. AI will have a much greater impact on society than the Internet, affecting both businesses (B-side) and consumers (C-side) universally. For instance, Baidu is collaborating with Shougang to utilize AI for steel quality detection, and working with the Taiyuan Railway Bureau in Shanxi Province for logistics cooperation. In the mining sector, despite having advanced hardware, data analysis remains underutilized.
On the consumer side, Li Yanhong explained that tasks which are repetitive or follow predictable patterns can easily be handled by machines without fatigue. After AI’s widespread adoption, the capital market also validated Baidu's strategic shift. Li Yanhong remarked that fluctuations in the stock market are hard to interpret, but over the past year, Baidu has become clearer in its positioning, emphasizing AI and transitioning from the era of mobile internet to the AI era. "In the era of mobile internet, Baidu's technical advantages didn't provide a clear edge, but in the age of artificial intelligence, our technical strengths stand out, enhancing our chances of success."
Regarding the debates surrounding AI, such as the bubble and threat theories, Li Yanhong dismissed them outright. Concerning the bubble theory, he argued that AI requires time to permeate various sectors, and any bubbles present are likely due to financial speculation rather than the technology itself. As for the threat theory, he believes that AI will never surpass or control humans because it simulates human thought processes rather than imitating them exactly. It operates through analogy, not replication, and thus will never reach or exceed human cognitive levels.
When asked about the perceived gap between BAT (Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent), Li Yanhong admitted he doesn't overly concern himself with comparisons. Instead, he focuses on what he enjoys and excels at. Reflecting on the past 20 years, he recalled how envious he felt when classmates who returned from working abroad earned higher salaries due to China’s lower consumption levels at the time. However, realizing these opportunities weren’t meant for him, he decided to focus on what truly mattered—his passion for the Internet, even when it wasn't widely used. He concluded that it's essential to concentrate on one's own path rather than comparing oneself to others.
Qin Hao remarked that Li Yanhong has been preparing for AI for two decades. This dedication underscores Baidu's long-term commitment to advancing AI technologies, setting the stage for its future innovations and contributions to society.
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