Baidu’s leading AI expert steps down

Leading Chinese ride hailing and technology company Baidu has announced that Lu Qi, one of the company’s leading AI experts, will be stepping down from his role as Chief Operating Officer at the firm in July 2018.

Lu currently heads up the company’s AI unit on a day to day basis, a division that has increasingly become part of the company’s core focus, with the firm having been tasked with spearheading China’s autonomous driving developments by the government.

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“I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to Qi, who took over daily operational management at Baidu in the past year to give me more time to contemplate on the company's strategic course,” said Robin Li, Co-Founder and CEO of Baidu.

“With Baidu's strategy to transform into an AI-first company firmly in place, we are well positioned to continue the momentum that we have built in the past year.”

Lu will remain Vice Chairman of the company, whilst Vice President Wang Haifeng will now oversee the company’s AI work.

“Haifeng has played an important role in Baidu's acquisition of engineering talent, helping Baidu drive innovation and commercialization of AI technologies,” Li continued.

Previous to his role at Baidu, Lu held roles at both Microsoft and Yahoo.