baidu

Baidu, Inc. is a leading Chinese multinational technology company specializing in internet-related services and artificial intelligence (AI). Often referred to as the "Google of China," it operates the country's dominant search engine.

Key Facts About Baidu

• Founding & Headquarters: The company was founded in January 2000 by Robin Li and Eric Xu and is headquartered in the Haidian District of Beijing.
• Core Business: Its primary product is the Baidu search engine, which holds the largest market share in China. Beyond search, its ecosystem includes cloud services, online maps, an app store, and video streaming (iQIYI).
• AI Focus: Baidu has pivoted to become a major player in artificial intelligence, developing full-stack AI technologies including AI chips, software architecture, and applications like the conversational AI assistant ERNIE Bot.
• Autonomous Driving: The company is heavily invested in autonomous driving technology, including the development of driverless taxi services and the Apollo autonomous vehicle platform.
• Stock Listings: Baidu is publicly traded on the Nasdaq (ticker: BIDU) and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Name Origin

The name "Baidu" (百度, literally "hundred degrees") is derived from a poem by Xin Qiji, a Southern Song Dynasty poet, alluding to the persistent search for a person "a thousand times".