Baidu's AI to help build smart city in Xiongan New Area

Baidu displays a smart car, which is backed by its AI technology, at the 2017 International Consumer Electronics Show Asia in Shanghai, June 7, 2017. [Photo:www.dfic.cn]

The administrative committee of Xiongan New Area has signed an agreement with Baidu, allowing the Chinese internet giant to introduce AI technology to the urban planning and building of the area.

The area, established in April, is a new economic zone around 100 kilometers southwest of Beijing. Chinese authorities aim to build it as a low-carbon, intelligent, livable and globally influential city where people and nature exist in harmony.

Photo shows an overview of Xiongan New Area located 100 kilometers southwest of Beijing. [Photo:www.dfic.cn]

Baidu CEO Li Yanhong says his company would offer its knowledge in AI, big data, unmanned driving and cloud computing to help Xiongan build a smart city in several areas, including transport, education, security and environmental protection.

On December 20, Baidu tested several of its self-driving vehicles on public roads in Xiongan. Vehicles equipped with Baidu's "Apollo platform" drove safely during the 4 km-long road test. The vehicles were in auto-drive mode, although there were people seated in the vehicles.

The tests were approved by the administrative committee of Xiongan.