In the bustling world of Chinese technology, Baidu—a titan originally known for its search engine—has recently shifted its focus from queries to cognition. According to a comprehensive coverage by the Global Times, Baidu’s founder Robin Li (often named Li Yanhong in the local press) has laid out a bold roadmap: internalize artificial‑intelligence (AI) capabilities to ignite a new wave of productive forces and power high‑quality development across the country. The plan, articulated in a People’s Daily commentary and echoed in the Global Times, aligns directly with Beijing’s AI Plus campaign, which seeks to weave AI into every industry, from manufacturing to services.
Why Internalization Matters
The heart of Li Yanhong’s message is simple yet profound: AI is not a foreign commodity to be bought and bought; it must become an internal, native skill set that every enterprise can tap into. “To empower high‑quality development through AI, a key focus must be on enabling industries to internalize AI capabilities and build native AI”, the article reads. In other words, internalizing AI means developing in‑house AI talent, localizing foundational models, and embedding intelligence into core operations—so that companies no longer rely on external vendors for AI solutions.
From Search Engine to Intelligence Engine
Baidu’s transition was not a subtle tweak; it’s a paradigm shift. In a Yahoo Finance report, Li is described as “casting AI as the engine of China’s push for “new productive forces.”” For a country that has historically dominated manufacturing with mass‑production techniques, this approach signals a move toward smarter production that leverages data, automation, and predictive analytics.
Such a transformation dovetails with China’s “new productive forces” agenda, where innovation, intellectual property, and knowledge‑based assets are the new drivers of growth. By turning AI from a cost centre into a productivity lever, Baidu proposes that businesses can create higher value from the same resources—a win‑win for the industry and the economy.
The Role of Baidu in the AI Ecosystem
Baidu is uniquely positioned to lead this revolution. With deep pockets, a massive user base, and an established research division, the company can accelerate the cadence of AI development. The Global Times notes that Baidu is “building native AI
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