Baidu unveils chip to boost AI use in industrial applications

Internet search giant Baidu Inc launched an artificial intelligence chip named Honghu on Wednesday, which could be configured to accommodate vehicle-mounted voice control systems and intelligent home scenarios, as part of its broader push to speed up industrial application of AI technologies.

Baidu's open source deep learning platform, PaddlePaddle, will conduct in-depth cooperation with Huawei Technologies Co Ltd's Kirin chipsets, said Wang Haifeng, chief technology officer of Baidu at Baidu Create 2019, the company's annual developers' conference in Beijing.

"The two tech companies could exert their advantages in software and hardware sector," said Wang, describing Baidu's self-developed deep learning platform as the homegrown "AI operating system." He emphasized that the collaboration with Huawei will provide strong computing power and accelerate the commercial application of AI.