Data Center

Baidu unveils 10-year spending plan

July 8, 2020

The Chinese search engine and AI company says it seeks what it calls “new infrastructure” that will require investments over the next decade in a variety of areas.

Stephen Hardy

Baidu, Inc. (NASDAQ:BIDU) has revealed its spending priorities over the next 10 years. The Chinese search engine and AI company says it seeks what it calls “new infrastructure” that will require investments over the next decade in cloud computing, AI education, AI platforms, chipsets, and data centers.

The plan calls for Baidu to have 5 million intelligent cloud servers by 2030 and train 5 million AI professionals within 5 years. The goal is to spread the application of AI across such markets as transportation, city management, finance, energy, health care, and manufacturing.

"New infrastructure--which encompasses emerging technologies like AI, cloud computing, 5G, IoT, and blockchain--will be the driver for China's economic development in the coming decades," said Baidu Chief Technology Officer Haifeng Wang. "As a world-leading AI platform company, Baidu is well positioned to make large contributions to the development of new infrastructure in China, which will support the implementation of AI applications in different industries."

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About the Author

Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave

Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.

Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.

He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.

You can connect with Stephen on LinkedIn as well as Twitter.