The giants have never ceased to explore and research artificial intelligence. The ultimate goal of AI development is to apply it across industries, finding the right scenarios where AI can truly add value. Identifying the right use cases is key to unlocking AI's potential. As AI continues to evolve, major tech companies are striving to integrate it into various sectors, ensuring their place in the future. Among them, the retail industry, being a crucial part of the ecosystem, has become a prime target for AI innovation.
With the rise of artificial intelligence, the three leading tech giants—Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent (BAT)—have started a new race to shape the future. While they still dominate the market today, the question remains: who will hold the competitive edge in the years to come?
[Image: "AI Layout: Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent – Three-Pillar Competition", src="http://i.bosscdn.com/blog/27/55/81/0-1G115132050394.png", width: 500px, height: 390px]
“Recently, we discussed acquiring a U.S. tech company. An executive asked, ‘What if competitors do the same?’ I said, don’t worry. Our competitors buy products and users, not technology. Only Baidu invests in technology,†said Li Yanhong.
“I may not be an expert in technology, but not understanding it isn't shameful. Those who refuse to learn are the most shameful. Without Alibaba’s technology, there would be no business today. I’m proud of our 25,000 engineers,†said Jack Ma.
“For Tencent, we focus on what we can do with AI,†said Ma Huateng.
In the AI landscape, BAT is still leading the way.
On July 5th, Baidu held its Developer Conference, emphasizing “All in AI.†On October 11th, Alibaba launched the Dharma Institute at the Yunqi Conference, focusing on areas like machine intelligence, intelligent networking, and fintech. On November 8th, Tencent announced “AI in All†at its Global Partner Conference.
Baidu has made bold moves, though some projects have faced challenges. Jack Ma, once clear-cut, now leads the charge with the Dharma Institute. Pony Ma remains focused on profitability, as always.
**1. Baidu: All in AI, Two Major Products Lead the Way**
Baidu has been heavily promoting its AI efforts. At the “Strongest Brain†competition, Wu Enda’s AI system “Little Du†defeated Wang Hao, the so-called “Water Brother.†Later, a self-driving car was pulled over by traffic police, highlighting Baidu’s growing presence in AI.
Baidu’s AI breakthrough came with Dueros and Apollo. Dueros focuses on speech, natural language processing, and image recognition, offering developers integrated hardware and software solutions. Apollo is an autonomous driving platform that provides comprehensive solutions, from vehicle platforms to cloud data services, aiming to lower R&D costs and accelerate the adoption of self-driving technology. However, for regular consumers, Baidu’s AI is still somewhat distant.
**2. Dharma Institute: Can It Reach the Top of Tech?**
If Baidu’s AI is like a hidden master, then Alibaba’s AI is more visible, especially during events like Double 11. Alibaba’s AI system “Luban†can generate thousands of banners in seconds, outperforming human designers.
At the Yunqi Conference, Jack Ma announced the establishment of the Dharma Institute, known as Alibaba’s “NASA Plan.†Its research areas include quantum computing, machine learning, basic algorithms, network security, visual computing, and more, covering machine intelligence, smart networks, and financial technology.
While still in early stages, the institute shows great potential.
**3. Tencent: AI in All, Focused on Games, Social, and Content**
Tencent rebranded its AI slogan to “AI in All,†reflecting its core strengths in games, social media, and content. Given that gaming accounts for half of Tencent’s revenue, it makes sense that AI is heavily invested in this area.
Tencent uses AI to enhance game experiences, study complex interactions between players, agents, and environments, and even go beyond traditional gaming. In social media, the company focuses on natural language understanding, speech recognition, and smart home interactions. For content, AI helps analyze user preferences, improve recommendations, and enhance search capabilities.
Tencent also mentioned how its game “Honor of Kings†used AI to train against top Go players, showing the power of AI in entertainment. VR and AR are seen as the best interfaces for interacting with AI, making them key components of future AI integration.
**4. The War Behind the Scenes**
VR and AR are becoming the ideal interfaces for interacting with real AI, bridging the gap between the virtual and real worlds. As AI continues to advance, it’s reshaping content distribution, changing how people read, and even challenging traditional search engines like Baidu. News platforms like Today’s Headlines have benefited greatly from AI, expanding globally and investing heavily.
In July, NetEase launched its Intelligent Business Department at the Yunchuang Conference, showcasing AI tools like “Netease Insights†and “Netease Shadows.†NetEase claims to be one of the earliest Chinese companies to adopt AI technology. Earlier, the company proposed the idea of merging the virtual and real worlds.
With strong foundations in 3D, sandbox, VR, and AR technologies, NetEase is also exploring AI deeply. As AI continues to evolve, it’s shaping the future of digital interaction and opening up new possibilities for both businesses and consumers.
Shenzhen Ousida Technology Co., Ltd , https://en.osdvape.com