Baidu's self-driving vehicles to be on trial next year

[Photo: from VCG]

Baidu's self-driving vehicles, part of a key national artificial intelligence research project, are expected to go into trial operation next year, according to Baidu Inc Chairman and CEO Robin Li.

In July, the State Council issued guidelines on developing AI and set a goal of becoming a global AI innovation center by 2030.Baidu was chosen to lead the establishment of China's AI national laboratory on deep learning early this year. Self-driving technologies are important to the national research project.

The internet search giant in China has stepped up efforts to promote the commercialization of self-driving technology. The company says the mass production of its self-driving vehicles will be possible in 2020, but it expects to achieve that goal ahead of schedule.

Li said Baidu plans to put autonomous buses that run in designated areas into mass production and trial operation by the end of July 2018.

The company will launch autonomous vehicles with Chinese automobile manufacturers JAC Motors and BAIC Group in 2019, and Chery Automobile Co in 2020.

The audio clip is from Studio+, produced by CRI.