Robin Li, the founder and CEO of Baidu, a leading artificial intelligence (AI) company in China, predicts an “exponential” surge in AI applications by 2025. In a New Year’s memo to staff, Li expressed optimism about the future of generative AI and its transformative impact across industries.
Baidu, renowned for its pioneering work in AI, introduced its own large language model (LLM) shortly after OpenAI’s global debut of ChatGPT. In the memo, Li underscored the company’s confidence that its investments in AI, particularly in generative models, would begin to pay off in 2024, setting the stage for significant advancements in the following year.
Baidu’s AI investments to bear fruit
Robin Li’s 1,200-word memo, shared with Baidu employees on January 1, highlighted the company’s dedication to integrating generative AI across various industries. “Generative AI, powered by foundational models, is being rapidly deployed across various industries and scenarios,” he wrote.
Despite the lack of a “super app” dominating the market, Li pointed out that the adoption of AI technology is already underway, with a promising trajectory for 2025. He likened Baidu’s AI strategy to planting seeds in 2023 and 2024, which he expects will “take root, blossom, and bear fruit” as the market increasingly acknowledges the value of AI innovations.
Baidu has faced challenges in its AI journey, with Li admitting that some projects carried high risks of failure. The entrepreneur reflected on times when success was uncertain, even up to the last stages of development. However, this resilience has positioned Baidu as a key player in China’s AI landscape.
Baidu’s struggles and future outlook
Founded 25 years ago in a Beijing hotel room, Baidu has grown into China’s largest search engine operator and a leader in AI. Yet, the company has faced hurdles in maintaining investor interest. Baidu’s traditional internet search business has slowed, and its Nasdaq-listed shares fell 27% in 2024, closing at US$84.31 on the last trading day of the year.
Despite these setbacks, Li remains optimistic about Baidu’s AI ambitions. The rapid deployment of AI solutions and the development of generative technologies position the company to lead innovation in the coming years. With a firm focus on AI’s transformative power, Baidu aims to solidify its role as a cornerstone of the global AI revolution by 2025.
