View source for Company:Baidu

{{Short description|Chinese web services company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Baidu, Inc.
| logo = Baidu.svg
| image = Baidu Technology Park at ZPark Phase II (20220502113650).jpg
| image_size = 250px
| image_caption = Corporate headquarters
| type = Public
| traded_as = {{Nasdaq|BIDU}}<br />{{SEHK|9888}}
| foundation = {{start date and age|2000|1|18}}
| location_city = [[Place:Beijing|Beijing]]
| location_country = China
| founder = Robin Li<br />Eric Xu
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = {{nowrap|Robin Li ([[Social:Entrepreneurship|co-founder]] & [[Company:CEO|CEO]])<ref>{{cite web |title=Baidu – Investors – Management |url=http://ir.baidu.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=188488&p=irol-govmanage |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606043534/http://ir.baidu.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=188488&p=irol-govmanage |archive-date=6 June 2017 |access-date=29 August 2016}}</ref>}}
| industry = [[Internet]]<br />[[Artificial intelligence]]<br />[[Cloud computing]]
| products = {{hlist|[[Search engine]]|Baidu Maps|Baidu Baike|[[Software:Baidu Wangpan|Baidu Wangpan]]|Baidu Tieba }}
| revenue = {{increase}} CN¥ 124.493&nbsp;billion (2021)<ref name="ir.baidu.com">{{cite web |title=Baidu – Investors – Press Releases |url=https://ir.baidu.com/static-files/2a56fe65-5b24-4545-bb4b-6374ea40b3bf |access-date=29 March 2022}}</ref>
| operating_income = {{decrease}} CN¥10.518&nbsp;billion (2021)<ref name="ir.baidu.com" />
| net_income = {{decrease}} CN¥10.226&nbsp;billion (2021)<ref name="ir.baidu.com" />
| assets = {{nowrap|{{increase}} CN¥380.034&nbsp;billion (2021)<ref name="ir.baidu.com" />}}
| equity = {{increase}} CN¥156.082&nbsp;billion (2021)<ref name="ir.baidu.com" />
| num_employees = 45,500 (2021)<ref name="ir.baidu.com" />
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.baidu.com/}}
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| pic = 
| picsize = 250px
| piccap = Baidu headquarters, Haidian District, Beijing
| showflag = cp
| c = 百度
| p = Bǎidù
| mi = {{IPAc-cmn|b|ai|3|.|d|u|4}}
| w = Paitu
| gr = Baeduh
| wuu = Bah tu
| j = Baak<sup>3</sup> dou<sup>6</sup>
| y = Baakdoh
| poj = Pah-to͘
| ci = {{IPA-yue|pāːk.tòu̯|}}
| t = 
| s = 
| altname = 
| bpmf = ㄅㄞˇㄉㄨˋ
}}

'''Baidu, Inc.''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|aɪ|d|uː}} {{respell|BY|doo}}; {{zh|c=百 度|p=Bǎidù}}, meaning "hundred times") is a Chinese multinational [[Finance:Technology company|technology company]] specializing in Internet-related services, products, and [[Artificial intelligence|artificial intelligence]] (AI), headquartered in [[Place:Beijing|Beijing]]'s Haidian District.<ref name=":1" /> It is one of the largest AI and Internet companies in the world. The holding company of the group is incorporated in the [[Finance:Cayman Islands|Cayman Islands]].<ref name="ir.baidu.com" /> Baidu was incorporated in January 2000 by Robin Li and Eric Xu. Baidu has origins in RankDex, an earlier search engine developed by Robin Li in 1996, before he founded Baidu in 2000.<ref name="rankdex" />

Baidu offers various services, including a [[Social:Chinese language|Chinese]] search engine, as well as a mapping service called Baidu Maps. Baidu offers about 57 search and community services, such as Baidu Baike (an online encyclopedia), [[Software:Baidu Wangpan|Baidu Wangpan]] (a cloud storage service), and Baidu Tieba (a keyword-based discussion forum).<ref>{{cite web |title=Baidu's 57 Products/Services: Introduction and History |url=http://www.cnanalyst.com/baidu.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080407064228/http://www.cnanalyst.com/baidu.html |archive-date=7 April 2008 |access-date=21 March 2008 |publisher=China Analyst (CNAnalyst.com) }}</ref>

Baidu Global Business Unit (GBU) is responsible for Baidu's international products and services for markets outside of China. Baidu GBU's product portfolio includes keyboard apps Simeji and Facemoji Keyboard, content recommendation platform popIn, augmented reality network OmniAR, Japanese smart projector popIn Aladdin, and ad platform MediaGo, which is focused on Chinese advertisers looking to reach overseas users. In 2017, Baidu GBU entered into a partnership with [[Company:Snap Inc.|Snap Inc.]] to act as the company's official ad reseller for Snapchat in [[Place:Greater China|Greater China]], {{wipe|South Korea}}, {{wipe|Japan}} and [[Place:Singapore|Singapore]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Flynn |first=Kerry |date=31 July 2019 |title=How China's Baidu works with Snap, Pinterest and Reddit on ad sales |url=https://digiday.com/marketing/chinas-baidu-works-snap-pinterest-reddit-ad-sales/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801121750/https://digiday.com/marketing/chinas-baidu-works-snap-pinterest-reddit-ad-sales/ |archive-date=1 August 2019 |access-date=22 August 2019 |website=Digiday }}</ref> The partnership was extended in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Snap turns to search giant Baidu to court Chinese advertisers |url=http://social.techcrunch.com/2019/07/16/snap-baidu-partnership/ |access-date=22 August 2019 |website=TechCrunch |date=16 July 2019 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
 
In 2018, Baidu divested the "Global DU business" portion of its overseas business, which developed a series of utility apps including ES File Explorer, DU Caller, Mobojoy, Photo Wonder and DU Recorder, etc.<ref>{{cite web |title=Baidu spins out its global ad business to sharpen its focus on artificial intelligence |url=http://social.techcrunch.com/2018/05/22/baidu-spins-out-its-global-ad-business-to-sharpen-its-focus-on-artificial-intelligence/ |access-date=22 August 2019 |website=TechCrunch |date=22 May 2018 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> This business now operates independently of Baidu under the name DO Global.<ref>{{cite web |title=Baidu english |url=https://www.baiduenglish.com |access-date=22 August 2019 |website=baiduenglish.com}}</ref>

In December 2007, Baidu became the first Chinese company to be included in the [[Company:NASDAQ-100|NASDAQ-100]] index.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chmielewski |first=Dawn C. |date=10 December 2007 |title=Search site moves at the speed of China |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://articles.latimes.com/2007/dec/10/business/fi-baidu10 |url-status=live |access-date=26 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122010517/http://articles.latimes.com/2007/dec/10/business/fi-baidu10 |archive-date=22 January 2012}}</ref> As of May 2018, Baidu's [[Social:Market capitalization|market cap]] rose to US$99&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Baidu offers rosy outlook after Google threat {{!}} IOL Business Report |url= https://www.iol.co.za/business-report/technology/baidu-offers-rosy-outlook-after-google-threat-909984 |url-status=live |access-date=4 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904200527/https://www.iol.co.za/business-report/technology/baidu-offers-rosy-outlook-after-google-threat-909984 |archive-date=4 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Baidu Market Cap (BIDU)  |work=ycharts.com |url=https://ycharts.com/companies/BIDU/market_cap |url-status=live |access-date=8 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808195817/https://ycharts.com/companies/BIDU/market_cap |archive-date=8 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Cheng |first=Evelyn |date=7 August 2017 |title=These Chinese tech stocks are even hotter than FANG |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/07/these-chinese-tech-stocks-are-even-hotter-than-fang.html |url-status=live |access-date=8 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808143635/https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/07/these-chinese-tech-stocks-are-even-hotter-than-fang.html |archive-date=8 August 2017}}</ref> In October 2018, Baidu became the first Chinese firm to join the United States-based computer ethics consortium Partnership on AI.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Chloe |date=17 October 2018 |title=Baidu becomes the first Chinese firm to join US-led A.I. body |work=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/17/baidu-becomes-the-first-chinese-firm-to-join-us-led-ai-body.html |url-status=live |access-date=17 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181103192645/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/17/baidu-becomes-the-first-chinese-firm-to-join-us-led-ai-body.html |archive-date=3 November 2018}}</ref>

== History ==

=== Early development ===
[[File:Baidu headquarters at Shangdi (20220509112439).jpg|thumb|Baidu headquarters building completed in 2009]]
In 1994, Robin Li (Li Yanhong, 李彦宏) joined IDD Information Services, a New Jersey division of Dow Jones and Company, where he helped develop software for the online edition of ''{{wipe|The Wall Street Journal}}''.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/bizfocus/archives/2006/09/17/2003328060 |title=Robin Li's vision powers Baidu's Internet search dominance |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110203043023/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/bizfocus/archives/2006/09/17/2003328060 |archive-date=3 February 2011 |work=Taipei Times |date=17 September 2006}}</ref> He also worked on developing better algorithms for search engines and remained at IDD Information Services from May 1994 to June 1997.

In 1996, while at IDD, Li developed the RankDex site-scoring algorithm for search engines results page ranking<ref name="rankdex">[http://www.rankdex.com/about.html "About: RankDex"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120002301/http://www.rankdex.com/about.html |date=20 January 2012 }}, ''rankdex.com''</ref><ref>Greenberg, Andy, [https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/1005/technology-baidu-robin-li-man-whos-beating-google.html "The Man Who's Beating Google"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919062623/https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/1005/technology-baidu-robin-li-man-whos-beating-google.html |date=19 September 2018 }}, ''Forbes'' magazine, 5 October 2009</ref><ref>Yanhong Li, "Toward a Qualitative Search Engine," ''IEEE Internet Computing'', vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 24–29, July/Aug. 1998, {{doi|10.1109/4236.707687}}</ref> and received a US patent for the technology.<ref>USPTO, [https://www.google.com/patents?hl=en&lr=&vid=USPAT5920859&id=x04ZAAAAEBAJ&oi=fnd&dq=yanhong+li&printsec=abstract#v=onepage&q=yanhong%20li&f=false "Hypertext Document Retrieval System and Method"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111205225726/http://www.google.com/patents?hl=en&lr=&vid=USPAT5920859&id=x04ZAAAAEBAJ&oi=fnd&dq=yanhong+li&printsec=abstract#v=onepage&q=yanhong%20li&f=false |date=5 December 2011 }}, US Patent number: 5920859, Inventor: Yanhong Li, Filing date: 5 February 1997, Issue date: 6 July 1999</ref> Launched in 1996,<ref name="rankdex" /> RankDex was the first search engine that used hyperlinks to measure the quality of websites it was indexing.<ref>{{cite web |date=18 September 2018 |title=Baidu Vs Google: The Twins Of Search Compared |url=https://fourweekmba.com/baidu-vs-google/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616132734/https://fourweekmba.com/baidu-vs-baidu/ |archive-date=16 June 2019 |access-date=16 June 2019 |website=FourWeekMBA}}</ref> Li referred to his search mechanism as "link analysis," which involved ranking the popularity of a web site based on how many other sites had linked to it.<ref name="nytimes">{{Cite news |date=17 September 2006 |title=The Rise of Baidu (That's Chinese for Google) |work=The New York Times |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/17/business/yourmoney/17baidu.html |url-status=live |access-date=16 June 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190627071550/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/17/business/yourmoney/17baidu.html |archive-date=27 June 2019}}</ref> It predated the similar [[PageRank]] algorithm used by [[Company:Google|Google]] two years later in 1998;<ref name="forbes">{{cite web |last=Altucher |first=James |date=18 March 2011 |title=10 Unusual Things About Google (also: the worst VC decision I ever made) |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesaltucher/2011/03/18/10-unusual-things-about-google-also-the-worst-vc-decision-i-ever-made/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616133656/https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesaltucher/2011/03/18/10-unusual-things-about-google-also-the-worst-vc-decision-i-ever-made/ |archive-date=16 June 2019 |access-date=16 June 2019 |website={{wipe|Forbes}}}}</ref> Google founder [[Biography:Larry Page|Larry Page]] referenced Li's work as a citation in some of his U.S. patents for PageRank.<ref name="rankdex" /><ref name="forbes" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Method for node ranking in a linked database |url=https://www.google.com/patents/US6285999 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151015185034/http://www.google.com/patents/US6285999 |archive-date=15 October 2015 |access-date=19 October 2015 |publisher=Google Patents}}</ref> Li later used his RankDex technology for the Baidu search engine.

Baidu was incorporated on 18 January 2000, by Robin Li and Eric Xu.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |last=Kenton |first=Will |date=6 June 2018 |title=Baidu |url=https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/baidu.asp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427020704/https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/baidu.asp |archive-date=27 April 2019 |access-date=27 April 2019 |website=Investopedia }}</ref> In 2001, Baidu allowed advertisers to bid for ad space and then pay Baidu every time a customer clicked on an ad, predating Google's approach to advertising.<ref name="nytimes" /> In 2003, Baidu launched a news search engine and picture search engine, adopting a special identification technology capable of identifying and grouping the articles.<ref>{{cite web |title=Baidu Launched News Search Engine and Pictures Search Engine |url= http://business.highbeam.com/436093/article-1G1-105619810/baidu-launched-news-search-engine-and-pictures-search |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131110222024/http://business.highbeam.com/436093/article-1G1-105619810/baidu-launched-news-search-engine-and-pictures-search |archive-date=10 November 2013}}</ref>

Baidu went public on Wall Street through a [[Finance:Variable interest entity|variable interest entity]] (VIE) based in the [[Finance:Cayman Islands|Cayman Islands]] on 5 August 2005.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Untold Story of the Baidu IPO |url=https://seekingalpha.com/article/157809-the-untold-story-of-the-baidu-ipo |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161024214752/http://seekingalpha.com/article/157809-the-untold-story-of-the-baidu-ipo |archive-date=24 October 2016 |access-date=8 September 2019 |website=Seeking Alpha|date=23 August 2009 }}</ref>

On 31 July 2012, Baidu announced that it would team up with Sina to provide mobile search results.<ref>{{Cite news |date=31 July 2012 |title=Sina and Baidu team up in China to focus on mobile |work=BBC News |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19061997 |url-status=live |access-date=21 July 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190223021149/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19061997 |archive-date=23 February 2019}}</ref>

On 18 November 2012, Baidu announced that it would be partnering with [[Company:Qualcomm|Qualcomm]] to offer free cloud storage to [[Software:Android (operating system)|Android]] users with Snapdragon processors.<ref>{{cite web |date=19 November 2012 |title=Baidu and Qualcomm partner to offer free cloud storage |url= http://www.geekshut.com/baidu-and-qualcomm-partner-to-offer-free-cloud-storage/6788 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130116102139/http://www.geekshut.com/baidu-and-qualcomm-partner-to-offer-free-cloud-storage/6788 |archive-date=16 January 2013 |access-date=22 April 2013 |website=Geeks Hut}}</ref>

On 2 August 2013, Baidu launched its Personal Assistant app, designed to help CEOs, managers and the white-collar workers manage their business relationships.<ref>[http://www.chinainternetwatch.com/2718/baidu-personal-assistant-app-android/ Baidu Launch Personal Assistant App for Android Phones] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130918024757/http://www.chinainternetwatch.com/2718/baidu-personal-assistant-app-android/ |date=18 September 2013 }},''CHINA INTERNET WATCH'', 6 August 2013</ref>

On 16 May 2014, Baidu appointed [[Biography:Andrew Ng|Dr. Andrew Ng]] as chief scientist. Dr. Ng will lead Baidu Research in Silicon Valley and Beijing.<ref>{{cite press release |title= Baidu Opens Silicon Valley Lab, Appoints Andrew Ng as Head of Baidu Research |url= http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/baidu-opens-silicon-valley-lab-appoints-andrew-ng-as-head-of-baidu-research-259539471.html |publisher=Baidu, Inc. |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170305191800/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/baidu-opens-silicon-valley-lab-appoints-andrew-ng-as-head-of-baidu-research-259539471.html |archive-date=5 March 2017 |access-date=3 June 2017 |via=PRNewswire}}</ref>

On 18 July 2014, the company launched a Brazilian version of the search engine, ''Baidu Busca''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bischoff |first=Paul |date=18 July 2014 |title=China web giant Baidu launches search engine in Brazil |url=http://www.techinasia.com/baidu-launches-search-engine-in-brazil/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808133756/http://www.techinasia.com/baidu-launches-search-engine-in-brazil/ |archive-date=8 August 2014 |access-date=4 August 2014 |website=Tech in Asia}}</ref>

On 9 October 2014, Baidu announced acquisition of Brazilian local e-commerce site Peixe Urbano.<ref>{{cite news |date=4 December 2014 |title=China's Baidu buys control of Brazil's Peixe Urbano in expansion push |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-peixe-urbano-m-a-baidu-idUSKCN0HY1EN20141009 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151013054135/http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/09/us-peixe-urbano-m-a-baidu-idUSKCN0HY1EN20141009 |archive-date=13 October 2015 |access-date=30 June 2017 |publisher=Reuters}}</ref>

In April 2017, Baidu announced the launch of its [[Engineering:Apolong|Apollo project (Apolong)]], a self-driving vehicle platform, in a bid to help drive the development of autonomous cars including vehicle platform, hardware platform, open-source software platform and cloud data services.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Russell |first=Jon |date=18 April 2017 |title=Baidu is making its self-driving car platform freely available to the automotive industry |work=TechCrunch |url= https://techcrunch.com/2017/04/18/baidu-project-apollo/ |url-status=live |access-date=19 April 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170419175735/https://techcrunch.com/2017/04/18/baidu-project-apollo/ |archive-date=19 April 2017}}</ref> Baidu plans to launch this project in July 2017, before gradually introducing fully autonomous driving capabilities on highways and open city roads by 2020.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sangameswaran S |date=19 April 2017 |title=Baidu to launch self-driving car technology in July |publisher=Reuters |url= https://www.reuters.com/article/us-baidu-autonomous-idUSKBN17L05K?il=0 |url-status=live |access-date=19 April 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170624131756/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-baidu-autonomous-idUSKBN17L05K?il=0 |archive-date=24 June 2017}}</ref> In September 2017, Baidu launched a $1.5&nbsp;billion autonomous driving fund to invest in as many as 100 autonomous driving projects over the ensuing three years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-baidu-autonomous-idUSKCN1BW0QJ|title=China's Baidu launches $1.5 billion autonomous driving fund |website={{wipe|Reuters}} |date=21 September 2017}}</ref> At the same time, Apollo open-source software version 1.5 was also launched.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.eetimes.com/chinas-apollo-plan-explained/# |title=China's Apollo Plan Explained |publisher=EETimes |date= |accessdate=1 March 2022}}</ref>

In June 2017, Baidu partnered with Continental and Bosch, auto industry suppliers, on automated driving and connected cars.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Darrell |last=Etherington |date=1 June 2017 |title=Baidu teams up with Bosch and Continental on self-driving tech |work=TechCrunch |url= https://techcrunch.com/2017/06/01/baidu-teams-up-with-bosch-and-continental-on-self-driving-tech |url-status=live |access-date=1 June 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170601135343/https://techcrunch.com/2017/06/01/baidu-teams-up-with-bosch-and-continental-on-self-driving-tech/ |archive-date=1 June 2017}}</ref>

In September 2017, Baidu rolled out a new portable talking translator that can listen and speak in several different languages. Smaller than a typical smartphone, the 140-gram translation device can also be used as a portable Wi-Fi router and is able to operate on networks in 80 countries. It is still under development. Baidu will also be inserting artificial intelligence (AI) technology into smartphones, through its deep learning platform.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Baidu's talking translator gives tourists a hand |work=Nikkei Asian Review |url= https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/AC/Baidu-s-talking-translator-gives-tourists-a-hand |url-status=live |access-date=23 September 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170923145147/https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/AC/Baidu-s-talking-translator-gives-tourists-a-hand |archive-date=23 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Baidu puts open-source deep learning into smartphones |url= https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/09/26/baidu_mobile_deep_learning/ |url-status=live |access-date=26 September 2017 |work=The Register |date=26 September 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170926095038/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/09/26/baidu_mobile_deep_learning/ |archive-date=26 September 2017}}</ref> At the same period, it has also led a joint investment of US$12&nbsp;billion with [[Company:Alibaba Group|Alibaba Group]], [[Company:Tencent|Tencent]], JD.com and Didi Chuxing, acquiring 35% of [[Company:China Unicom|China Unicom]]'s stakes.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Russell |first=Jon |title=Alibaba, Tencent, Didi and other tech firms pour $12B into mobile operator China Unicom |work=TechCrunch |date=17 August 2017 |url= https://techcrunch.com/2017/08/17/alibaba-tencent-didi-china-unicom/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 August 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170828231826/https://techcrunch.com/2017/08/17/alibaba-tencent-didi-china-unicom/ |archive-date=28 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |publisher= Reuters |title=Exclusive: Baidu, JD.com to join others investing $12 billion in state-owned China Unicom – sources |url= https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-unicom-m-a-exclusive-idUSKBN1A6112 |last=Zhu |first=Julie |date=21 July 2017 |url-status=live |access-date=28 August 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170829003920/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-unicom-m-a-exclusive-idUSKBN1A6112 |archive-date=29 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Unicom to Sell 35% of Shanghai Unit to 14 Investors |publisher=Caixin Global |url= https://www.caixinglobal.com/2017-08-16/unicom-to-sell-35-of-shanghai-unit-to-14-investors-101131401.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816093638/https://www.caixinglobal.com/2017-08-16/unicom-to-sell-35-of-shanghai-unit-to-14-investors-101131401.html |archive-date=16 August 2018 |date=16 August 2018 }}</ref>

In October 2017, according to ''The Wall Street Journal'', Baidu would launch [[Engineering:Apolong|self-driving buses]] in China in 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nicas |first=Jack |title=Baidu aims to launch self-driving bus in China next year |date=17 October 2017 |work=MarketWatch |url= https://www.marketwatch.com/story/baidu-aims-to-launch-self-driving-bus-in-china-next-year-2017-10-17 |url-status=live |access-date=25 October 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171025134119/https://www.marketwatch.com/story/baidu-aims-to-launch-self-driving-bus-in-china-next-year-2017-10-17 |archive-date=25 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Nicas |first=Jack |date=18 October 2017 |title=Baidu Plans Fully Self-Driving Bus in China Next Year |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/baidu-plans-fully-self-driving-bus-in-china-next-year-1508287531 |url-status=live |access-date=25 October 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171025111226/https://www.wsj.com/articles/baidu-plans-fully-self-driving-bus-in-china-next-year-1508287531 |archive-date=25 October 2017 }}</ref> In the same month, Baidu announced that its first annual Baidu World technology conference (''Bring AI to Life'') would be held and live-streamed on 16 November 2017, at China World Summit Wing and Kerry Hotel, bringing together Baidu executives, employees, partners, developers, and media to discuss the company's mission and strategy, technology breakthroughs, new product developments, and its open artificial-intelligence (AI) ecosystem.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Baidu Announces the 2017 "Baidu World" Technology Conference |via=GlobeNewswire |publisher=Baidu, Inc. |url= https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2017/10/31/1160282/0/en/Baidu-Announces-the-2017-Baidu-World-Technology-Conference.html |url-status=live |access-date=31 October 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171031111753/https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2017/10/31/1160282/0/en/Baidu-Announces-the-2017-Baidu-World-Technology-Conference.html |date=20 October 2017 |archive-date=31 October 2017}}</ref>

In August 2021 Baidu revealed a new Robocar concept said to be capable of Level 5 autonomous driving.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paultan.org/2021/08/19/baidu-unveils-robocar-concept-capable-of-level-5-autonomous-driving-and-second-generation-ai-chip/ |work=Paul Tan's Automotive News |location= Shah Alam, Malaysia |first=Gerard |last=Lye |title= Baidu unveils robocar concept capable of Level 5 autonomous driving and second-generation AI chip |date=19 August 2021}}</ref> It also comes with the latest second-generation AI chip that can analyse the internal and external surroundings to provide predictive suggestions to proactively serve the needs of passengers.

In June 2022, [[Company:Jidu Auto|Jidu Auto]], an intelligent electric vehicle company originally backed by Baidu and Geely unveiled its first concept ROBO-01 in the form of a pre-production vehicle. The ROBO-01 rides on the Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) platform, a modular electric vehicle platform developed by Geely Holding.<ref>{{Cite news |title=JIDU unveils first concept production robocar|via=GlobeNewswire |publisher=prnewswire.com|url= https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jidu-unveils-first-concept-production-robocar-301564141.html|date=8 June 2022 }}</ref>

In August 2023, Baidu unveiled its ChatGPT-equivalent language model Ernie Bot publicly.<ref>{{cite web |date=31 August 2023 |title=China's Baidu makes AI chatbot Ernie Bot publicly available |url=https://apnews.com/article/baidu-ai-chatbot-ernie-chatgpt-627bd09608816847907d41f44da235d9 |access-date=17 October 2013 |publisher=AP News}}</ref> In October 2023, Baidu released a newer version Ernie 4.0 chatbot.<ref>{{cite web |date=16 July 2013 |title=Baidu Claims Its AI Tech Matches ChatGPT. Alibaba Has Some Catching Up to Do. |url=https://www.barrons.com/articles/baidu-stock-price-ai-ca1b4e26|access-date=17 October 2023 |website=Barron's }}</ref> 

=== Domain name redirection attack ===
On 12 January 2010, Baidu.com's DNS records in the United States were altered such that browsers to baidu.com were redirected to a website purporting to be the Iranian Cyber Army, thought to be behind the attack on [[Company:Twitter|Twitter]] during the 2009 Iranian election protests, making the proper site unusable for four hours.<ref>'''{{Cite news |date=12 January 2010 |title=Baidu hacked by 'Iranian cyber army' |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8453718.stm |url-status=live |access-date=12 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113052111/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8453718.stm |archive-date=13 January 2010 <!--DASHBot-->}}'''</ref> Internet users were met with a page saying "This site has been attacked by Iranian Cyber Army".<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 January 2010 |title=China's top search engine Baidu hacked |work=People's Daily |url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90778/90860/6866089.html |url-status=live |access-date=12 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100115043327/http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90778/90860/6866089.html |archive-date=15 January 2010}}</ref> Chinese hackers later responded by attacking Iranian websites and leaving messages.<ref name="guard">{{Cite news |last=Branigan |first=Tania |date=12 January 2010 |title='Iranian' hackers paralyse Chinese search engine Baidu |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2010/jan/12/iranian-hackers-chinese-search-engine |url-status=live |access-date=14 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222160358/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2010/jan/12/iranian-hackers-chinese-search-engine |archive-date=22 December 2016}}</ref>
Baidu later launched legal action against [[Company:Register.com|Register.com]] for gross negligence after it was revealed that Register.com's technical support staff changed the email address for Baidu.com on the request of an unnamed individual, despite failing security verification procedures. Once the address had been changed, the individual was able to use the forgotten password feature to have Baidu's domain passwords sent directly to them, allowing them to accomplish the [[Domain hijacking|domain hijacking]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Back |first=Aaron |title=Baidu Sues Register.com, Alleges Negligence in Hacking Attack |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703837004575013742840069602 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427235156/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703837004575013742840069602 |archive-date=27 April 2016 |access-date=29 August 2016}}</ref><ref>[http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9162118/Baidu_Registrar_incredibly_changed_our_e_mail_for_hacker "Baidu: Registrar 'incredibly' changed our e-mail for hacker," ''Computer World'', February 24, 2010.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111127115312/http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9162118/Baidu_Registrar_incredibly_changed_our_e_mail_for_hacker |date=27 November 2011 }} Accessed 13 December 2010.</ref> The lawsuit was settled out of court under undisclosed terms after Register.com issued an apology.<ref>{{cite web |title=Baidu and Register.com Announce Settlement of Litigation Over Cyber-Attack |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/Baidu-and-Registercom-iw-1219920504.html |access-date=29 August 2020 |publisher=yahoo! finance}}</ref>

=== Baidu workers arrested ===
On 6 August 2012, the BBC reported that three employees of Baidu were arrested on suspicion that they accepted bribes. The bribes were allegedly paid for deleting posts from the forum service. Four people were fired in connection with these arrests.<ref>{{cite web |date=6 August 2012 |title=BBC News – Baidu workers arrested for 'deleting posts for money' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19149185 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003082726/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19149185 |archive-date=3 October 2018 |access-date=22 April 2013 |publisher=Bbc.co.uk}}</ref>

=== 91 Wireless acquisition ===
On 16 July 2013, Baidu announced its intention to purchase 91 Wireless from NetDragon. 91 Wireless is best known for its app store, but it has been reported that the app store faces privacy and other legal issues.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hsu |first=Alex |date=16 July 2013 |title=91 Wireless' App Store Has Piracy and Other Legal Issues |url=http://bw-original-reporting.tumblr.com/post/55606959057/91-wireless-app-store-has-piracy-and-other-legal |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105014542/http://bw-original-reporting.tumblr.com/post/55606959057/91-wireless-app-store-has-piracy-and-other-legal |archive-date=5 November 2013 |access-date=16 July 2013 |website=BrightWire News }}</ref> On 14 August 2013, Baidu announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Baidu (Hong Kong) Limited has signed a definitive merger agreement to acquire 91 Wireless Web-soft Limited from NetDragon Web-soft Inc.<ref>[http://ir.baidu.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=188488&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1847426&highlight=  Baidu Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire NetDragon's Subsidiary 91 Wireless] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110193437/http://ir.baidu.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=188488&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1847426&highlight= |date=10 January 2016 }},''Baidu Press Releases'', 14 August 2013</ref> for $1.85&nbsp;billion in what was reported to be the biggest deal ever in China's IT sector.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Paul Carsten |date=14 August 2013 |title=Baidu says agrees to buy Netdragon's 91 Wireless for $1.85 billion |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-baidu-91wireless-idUSBRE97D0AR20130814 |url-status=live |access-date=30 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924183814/http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/14/us-baidu-91wireless-idUSBRE97D0AR20130814 |archive-date=24 September 2015}}</ref>

== Name ==
The name ''Baidu'' ({{zh|labels=no|c=百度}}) literally means "a hundred times", or alternatively, "countless times". It is a quote from the last line of Xin Qiji's ({{zh|labels=no|c=辛弃疾}}) classical poem "Green Jade Table in The Lantern Festival" ({{zh|labels=no|c=青玉案·元夕}}) saying: "Having searched hundreds of times in the crowd, suddenly turning back, she is there in the dimmest candlelight." ({{zh|labels=no|s=众里寻他千'''百度''', 蓦然回首, 那人却在灯火阑珊处。}})<ref>{{cite web |title=The Baidu Story |url=http://ir.baidu.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=188488&p=irol-homeprofile |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061030154019/http://ir.baidu.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=188488&p=irol-homeprofile |archive-date=30 October 2006 |access-date=12 January 2010 |publisher=Baidu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Company Overview {{!}} Baidu Inc|url=https://ir.baidu.com/company-overview/|access-date=6 March 2021|website=ir.baidu.com|language=en}}</ref>

== Services ==
Baidu offers several services<ref>{{cite web |title=Baidu – Investors – Products |url=http://ir.baidu.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=188488&p=irol-products |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318041416/http://ir.baidu.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=188488&p=irol-products |archive-date=18 March 2015 |access-date=29 August 2016}}</ref> to locate information, products and services using Chinese-language search terms, such as, search by Chinese phonetics, advanced search, snapshots, spell checker, stock quotes, news, knows, postbar, images, video and space information, and weather, train and flight schedules and other local information. The user-agent string of Baidu search engine is ''Baiduspider''.<ref>{{cite web |date=18 March 2009 |title=关于baiduspider |url=https://www.baidu.com/search/spider.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908130933/http://www.baidu.com/search/spider.htm |archive-date=8 September 2013 |access-date=30 May 2015 |publisher=baidu.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=17 March 2009 |title=Baiduspider User-Agent String |url=http://www.httpuseragent.org/list/Baiduspider-n40.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403044437/http://www.httpuseragent.org/list/Baiduspider-n40.htm |archive-date=3 April 2009 |access-date=18 March 2009 |website=www.httpuseragent.org}}</ref>

*''Baidu Maps'' ({{lang|zh|百度地图}}) is a desktop and mobile mapping solution similar to Google Maps, but covering only the Greater China region
*''[[Software:Baidu Wangpan|Baidu Wangpan]]'' ({{lang|zh|百度网盘}}), formerly ''Baidu Cloud'' ({{lang|zh|百度云}}) is a cloud storage service that offers 2 [[Terabyte|TB]] of free data storage.<ref>[http://yun.baidu.com/1t Baidu Yun] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031185750/http://yun.baidu.com/1t |date=31 October 2013 }} official website. Retrieved 23 April 2014.{{in lang|zh}}</ref>
*Baidu started its Japanese language search service, run by Baidu Japan, the company's first regular service outside of China.<ref>{{cite web |title=Baidu Japan |url=http://www.baidu.jp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823061048/http://www.baidu.jp/ |archive-date=23 August 2016 |access-date=29 August 2016}}</ref> It includes a search bar for web pages and image searches, user help and advanced services.<ref>{{cite web |date=23 March 2007 |title=China's Google in Japan |url=http://www.infoniac.com/hi-tech/china-google-in-japan.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070328005404/http://www.infoniac.com/hi-tech/china-google-in-japan.html |archive-date=28 March 2007 |access-date=23 March 2007 |publisher=Infoniac.com}}</ref> The Japanese search engine closed on 16 March 2015.<ref>{{cite web |date=17 April 2015 |title=After 8 years of failing, Baidu shuts Japan search engine |url=https://www.techinasia.com/baidu-shuts-japan-search-engine/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623130939/https://www.techinasia.com/baidu-shuts-japan-search-engine/ |archive-date=23 June 2015 |access-date=17 April 2015 |publisher=Tech IN Asia}}</ref>
*''Baidu Tieba'' ({{lang|zh|百度贴吧}}) provides users with a query-based searchable community to exchange views and share knowledge and experiences. It is an [[Online community|online community]] bound tightly with Baidu's search service.
*''Baidu News'' provides links to a selection of local, national and international news, and presents news stories in a searchable format, within minutes of their publication on the Web. Baidu News uses an automated process to display links to related headlines, which enables people to see many different viewpoints on the same story. Chinese government and Chinese industry sources stated that Baidu received a license from Beijing, which allows the search engine to become a full-fledged news website. Thus Baidu is able to provide its own reports, besides showing certain results as a search engine. Baidu is the first Chinese search engine to receive such a license.<ref>{{cite web |date=23 January 2007 |title=Google's Lookalike is Expanding in China |url=http://www.gadget4boys.com/index.php?page=articles&catid=3&id=20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929004244/http://www.gadget4boys.com/index.php?page=articles&catid=3&id=20 |archive-date=29 September 2007 |access-date=23 January 2007 |publisher=Gadget4boys.com}}</ref>
*''Baidu Knows'' ({{lang|zh|百度知道}}) provides users with a query-based searchable community to share knowledge and experience. Through Baidu Knows, registered members of Baidu Knows can post specific questions for other members to respond and also answer questions of other members.
*''Baidu MP3 Search'' provides algorithm-generated links to songs and other multimedia files provided by Internet content providers. Baidu started with a popular music search feature called "MP3 Search" and its comprehensive lists of popular Chinese music, ''Baidu 500'', based on download numbers. Baidu locates file formats such as MP3, [[Windows Media Audio|WMA]] and [[Software:Adobe Flash|SWF]]. The multimedia search feature is mainly used in searches for Chinese pop music. While such works are [[Copyright|copyright]]ed under Chinese law, Baidu claims on its legal disclaimer that linking to these files does not break Chinese law. This has led other local search engines to follow the practice, including Google China (Hong Kong), which uses an intermediate company called Top100 to offer a similar MP3 Search service.
*''Baidu Image Search'' enables users to search millions of images on the Internet. Baidu Image Search offers features such as search by image size and by image file type. Image listings are organized by various categories, which are updated automatically through [[Algorithm|algorithm]]s.
*''Baidu Video Search'' enables users to search for and access through hyperlinks of online video clips that are hosted on third parties' Websites.
*''[[Social:Baidu Space|Baidu Space]]'' the [[Social:Social networking service|social networking service]] of Baidu, allows registered users to create personalized homepages in a query-based searchable community.<ref>{{cite web |title=百度Hi官网 |url=http://hi.baidu.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060713072019/http://hi.baidu.com/ |archive-date=13 July 2006 |access-date=29 August 2016}}</ref> Registered users can post their Web logs, or blogs, photo album and certain personal information on their homepages and establish their own communities of friends who are also registered users. By July 2009, it had reached 100 million registered users
*''Baidu Baike'', is China's largest online encyclopedia by users and page views/[[Web traffic|web traffic]]; second largest encyclopedia by article count (after Hudong).
*''Baidu Translate'' ({{lang|zh|百度翻译}}), an online translation service originated in February 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=Baidu Translate 8.0.0 |url=https://www.apkhere.com/app/com.baidu.baidutranslate |website=Apkhere.com}}</ref> As of April 2020, it supports 200 languages, the most out of any online translation service, to help fight against [[Medicine:COVID-19|COVID-19]].<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1248316242689019904|user=BaiduResearch|title=@Baidu_Inc Translate is now...|date=9 April 2020}}</ref>
**''China Digital Village Encyclopedia'' ({{lang|zh|中国数字乡村大百科全书}}), in June 2009, Baidu announced it would compile the largest digital rural encyclopedia in China, according to China Securities Journal. It is expected to include 500,000 administrative villages in China, covering 80% of the total 600,000 villages in China. Baidu is creating the content of this encyclopedia largely from participants of its "rural information competition" ({{lang|zh|乡村信息化大赛}}),<ref>{{cite web |title=xiangcun.baidu.com |url=http://xiangcun.baidu.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091014183801/http://xiangcun.baidu.com/ |archive-date=14 October 2009 |access-date=29 August 2016 }}</ref> on which it has spent roughly five million yuan on incentives. Baidu sees China's rural areas as great potential for electronic business (e-business), evidenced by the fact that revenue grew the fastest from agriculture, forestry, animals, and fishery in the company's keyword promotion project, a crucial source of Baidu's total revenue. In addition to Baidu Encyclopedia, the company scales up keyword promotion and takes advantage of other products, such as Baidu Zhidao and Baidu Youa, to provide consultation, brand ad exhibitions and online network marketing/sales platform support, marketing information for rural tourism and promoting local products.<ref>{{cite web |title=Baidu will compile the rural digital Encyclopedia – BIC |url=http://www.business-internet-china.com/search-engine/china-news/baidu-will-compile-the-rural-digital--encyclopedia.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110508131817/http://www.business-internet-china.com/search-engine/china-news/baidu-will-compile-the-rural-digital--encyclopedia.php |archive-date=8 May 2011 |access-date=29 August 2016}}</ref>
* ''Baidu Search Ranking'' provides listings of search terms based on daily search queries entered on Baidu.com. The listings are organized by categories and allow users to locate search terms on topics of interest.
* ''Baidu Web Directory'' enables users to browse and search through websites that have been organized into categories.
* ''Baidu Government Information Search'' allows users to search various regulations, rules, notices, and other information announced by People's Republic of China government entities.
* ''Baidu Postal Code Search'' enables users to search postal codes in hundreds of cities in China.
* ''Educational Website Search'' allows users to search the Websites of educational institutions. Baidu University Search allows users to search information on or browse through the Websites of specific universities in China
* ''Baidu Legal Search'' enables users to search a database that contains national and local laws and regulations, cases, legal decisions, and law dictionaries.
* ''Baidu Love'' is a query-based searchable community where registered users can write and post messages to loved ones.
* ''Baidu Patent Search'' enables users to search for specific Chinese patents and provides basic patent information in the search results, including the patent's name, application number, filing date, issue date, inventor information and brief description of the patent.
* ''Baidu Games'' is an online channel that allows users to search or browse through game-related news and content.
* ''Baidu-Hexun Finance'', a financial information Website,<ref>{{cite web |title=百度新闻搜索——全球最大的中文新闻平台 |url=http://finance.baidu.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026000836/http://finance.baidu.com/ |archive-date=26 October 2016 |access-date=29 August 2016}}</ref> with partner Hexun.com, a financial information service provider in China with news reporting and [[Finance:Security|securities]] consulting licenses. Users can search or browse through economic and financial news, information relating to personal [[Finance:Wealth management|wealth management]] and related market statistics.
* ''Baidu Statistics Search'' enables users to search statistics that have been published by the Government of the People's Republic of China
* ''Baidu Entertainment'' is an online channel for entertainment-related news and content. Users can search or browse through news and other information relating to specific stars, movies, television series and music.
* ''Baidu Tongji'' is Baidu's [[Web analytics|web analytics]] platform. It provides users with many reports about visitors to their website, such as a report on the source of visitors to their website, a user demographics report, reports on content viewed on site, and a [[Heat map|heat map]] report.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lawton |first=Tait |title=A Thorough Guide to Baidu Analytics (Baidu Tongji) |url=http://www.nanjingmarketinggroup.com/blog/baidu-analytics-guide |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428103848/http://www.nanjingmarketinggroup.com/blog/baidu-analytics-guide |archive-date=28 April 2014 |access-date=22 April 2014}}</ref>
* ''Baidu Dictionary'' provides users with lookup and [[Machine translation|text translation]] services between Chinese and English.
* ''Baidu Youa'', an [[Finance:Online shopping|online shopping]]/[[Social:E-commerce|e-commerce]] platform through which businesses can sell their products and services at Baidu-registered stores.<ref>{{cite web |title=Youa.com |url=http://www.youa.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001206213800/http://www.youa.com/ |archive-date=6 December 2000 |access-date=29 August 2016 }}</ref>
* ''Baidu Desktop Search'', a free, downloadable software, which enables users to search all files saved on their computer without launching a [[Software:Web browser|Web browser]].
* ''Baidu Sobar'', a free, downloadable software, displayed on a browser's tool bar and makes the search function available on every Web page that a user browses.
* ''Baidu Wireless'' provides various services for mobile phones, including a Chinese-input front end processor (FEP) for various popular [[Operating system|operating system]]s including [[Software:Android (operating system)|Android]], [[Software:Symbian|Symbian]] [[Software:S60 (software platform)|S60v5]], and [[Software:Windows Mobile|Windows Mobile]].
* ''Baidu Anti-Virus'' offers anti-virus software products and [[Computer virus|computer virus]]-related news.
* ''Baidu Safety Center'', launched in 2008, provides users with free virus scanning, [[Philosophy:System|system]] repair and [[Internet security|online security]] evaluations
* ''Baidu Internet TV'' (known as ''Baidu Movies'') allows users to search, watch and download free movies, television series, cartoons, and other programs hosted on its servers
* ''Chinese-language voice assistant search services'' for Chinese speakers visiting Japan was launched in 2008, with partner Japanese personal handy-phone system operator Willcom Inc.
* ''Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific'',<ref>{{cite web |title=Discovery探索频道中文网 |url=http://discovery.baidu.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20101012191602/http://discovery.baidu.com/ |archive-date=12 October 2010 |access-date=29 August 2016 }}</ref> joint venture with Discovery Communications, focusing on science, technology, space, natural history, engineering, paleontology, archaeology, history, and culture.
* ''Baidu Index'' (known as ''Baidu Zhishu'') allows users to look up the search volume and trend for certain hot keywords and phrases. It can serve as a Baidu keyword research tool.
* ''Baidu Bookmarks'' (known as ''Baidu Soucang'') is a social bookmarking service supported by Baidu.com
* ''[[Software:Baidu Browser|Baidu Browser]]'' is a [[Software:Web browser|web browser]] first released<ref>{{cite web |title=百度浏览器 |url=http://liulanqi.baidu.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130422093828/http://liulanqi.baidu.com/ |archive-date=22 April 2013 |access-date=22 April 2013 |publisher=Liulanqi.baidu.com}}</ref> as a beta in July 2011.<ref>[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303661904576455980272656062?mod=googlenews_wsj China's Baidu Joins Browser Battle] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223021139/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303661904576455980272656062?mod=googlenews_wsj |date=23 February 2019 }}, ''The Wall Street Journal'', 20 July 2011</ref> It has been noted that the user interface looks very similar to [[Software:Google Chrome|Google Chrome]]/[[Software:Chromium (web browser)|Chromium]].<ref>[https://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2011/07/19/baidu%E2%80%99s-new-browser-looks-strikingly-familiar-google-chrome/ Baidu's New Browser Looks Strikingly Familiar] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506115303/https://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2011/07/19/baidu%E2%80%99s-new-browser-looks-strikingly-familiar-google-chrome/ |date=6 May 2018 }}, China Real Time Report – WSJ, 19 July 2011</ref>
* ''[[Engineering:Baidu Yi|Baidu Yi]]'' is a smartphone operating system based on [[Software:Android (operating system)|Android]] OS, announced in September 2011.<ref>{{cite web |date=2 September 2011 |title=Baidu Looks To Leapfrog Google With Cloud-Based Mobile OS (Update) |url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/09/02/baidu-looks-to-leapfrog-google-with-cloud-based-mobile-os/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110906200946/http://techcrunch.com/2011/09/02/baidu-looks-to-leapfrog-google-with-cloud-based-mobile-os/ |archive-date=6 September 2011 |access-date=7 September 2011 |publisher=TechCrunch}}</ref>
* ''Baidu Library'' is an open online platform for users to share documents. All the documents in Baidu Library are uploaded by the users and Baidu does not edit or change the documents. Users can read and download lecture notes, exercises, sample exams, presentation slides, materials of various subjects, variety of documents templates, etc. However, it is not completely free. To download some documents, users should have enough Baidu points to cover the points asked by the uploaders. Users could gain Baidu points by making contribution to Baidu Library and other users, such as uploading documents, categorizing documents, evaluating documents, etc.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}
* ''Baidu Experience'' is a product of Baidu primarily focusing on supporting the users with practical problems. In other words, it helps the users to solve the "how to do" problem. It was launched in October 2010. In architecture, Baidu Experience has integrated and reformatted Baidu Encyclopedia and Baike Knows. The first difference between Baidu Experience and Baidu Knows is that the former concentrates on specific "how to do" problems while the later contains a wider range of problems. The second difference is that users could share their experience without being asked on Baidu Experience.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}
* ''Baidu around You'' is a searching and sharing platform aiming at supporting the users with making their consumption decisions. There are currently 7 main categories of information on Baidu around You, including food, shopping, recreation, hotels, fitness, beauty and traveling. In addition, Baidu around You provides the users with convenient services and local information, partially coming from the users and searchable by cities.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}
* Qunar (Qunar Cayman Islands Limited), travel-booking service controlled by Baidu. As of 2013, Qunar had 31.4&nbsp;million active users and raised $167 Million at its [[Finance:Initial public offering|initial public offering]] that year.<ref>Fox Hu and Belinda Cao. Published 2 November 2013. [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-01/baidu-s-qunar-raises-167-million-as-chinese-ipo-stocks-surge.html Baidu's Qunar Rises After $167 Million IPO Exceeds Target] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109183544/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-01/baidu-s-qunar-raises-167-million-as-chinese-ipo-stocks-surge.html |date=9 January 2015 }}. [[Company:Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg L.P.]] Retrieved 25 September 2014</ref> It is listed at NASDAQ.<ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/QUNR:US Qunar Cayman Islands Ltd] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409094056/https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/QUNR:US |date=9 April 2017 }} [[Company:Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg L.P.]] Retrieved 25 September 2014</ref>
* Baidu Duer: Another addition to the family of virtual assistants.<ref>{{cite web |last=Namra Khurshid |date=23 August 2015 |title=Baidu's Duer:Another addition to the family of Digital Assistants |url=http://blog.codexify.com/2015/09/bynow-you-all-must-be-familiar-with.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151008090749/http://blog.codexify.com/2015/09/bynow-you-all-must-be-familiar-with.html |archive-date=8 October 2015 |access-date=13 September 2015 |publisher=Codexify }}</ref>
* Baidu Zhanzhang: The free suite of webmaster tools offered by Baidu.<ref>{{cite web |title=百度站长平台_让网站更具价值 |url=http://zhanzhang.baidu.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150327144728/http://zhanzhang.baidu.com/ |archive-date=27 March 2015 |access-date=21 September 2015 |website=zhanzhang.baidu.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Baidu 101: An Overview of Baidu Webmaster Tools |url=http://www.semrush.com/blog/baidu-101-an-overview-of-baidu-webmaster-tools/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925023026/http://www.semrush.com/blog/baidu-101-an-overview-of-baidu-webmaster-tools |archive-date=25 September 2015 |access-date=21 September 2015}}</ref>
*Baidu Music, a music service
*Baidu news feed, a news service
*Baidu Wallet, a mobile wallet with over 100million Chinese users. Its recent partnership with PayPal enables users to make payment in PayPal's 17million international e-commerce site. Its former CEO was Zhang Zheng Hua, who later became UNPay's founder.<ref>{{cite web |last=Chong |first=Zoey |title=PayPal taps into China's 100M Baidu Wallet users |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/paypal-taps-into-chinas-100m-baidu-wallet-users/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215230359/https://www.cnet.com/news/paypal-taps-into-chinas-100m-baidu-wallet-users/ |archive-date=15 December 2018 |access-date=12 December 2018 |website=PayPal taps into China's 100M Baidu Wallet users – CNET |publisher=CNET}}</ref>
*Baidu CarLife, automotive infotainment platform similar to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

== Advertisements ==

Baidu's primary advertising product is called Baidu Tuiguang and is similar to Google Ads and AdSense. It is a pay per click advertising platform that allows advertisers to have their ads shown in Baidu search results pages and on other websites that are part of Baidu Union. However, Baidu's search results are also based on payments by advertisers. This has prompted criticism and skepticism among Chinese users, with People's Daily commenting in 2018 on issues regarding reliability of Baidu results. Often as many as the first two pages of search results tend to be paid advertisers.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 May 2018 |title=Baidu should stop using paid listings |publisher=China Daily |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201805/02/WS5ae8f485a3105cdcf651b696.html |url-status=live |access-date=2 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502220539/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201805/02/WS5ae8f485a3105cdcf651b696.html |archive-date=2 May 2018}}</ref>

Baidu sells its advertising products via a network of resellers.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lawton |first=Tait |title=Baidu Pay Per Click: 7 Tips for a Successful Campaign |date=6 November 2012 |url=http://www.searchenginejournal.com/baidu-pay-per-click-7-tips-for-a-successful-campaign/51002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111005250/http://www.searchenginejournal.com/baidu-pay-per-click-7-tips-for-a-successful-campaign/51002/ |archive-date=11 November 2012 |access-date=12 November 2012 |publisher=SearchEngineJournal.com}}</ref> Baidu's web administrative tools are all in Chinese, which makes it tough for non-Chinese speakers to use. Recently, a third-party company began to develop a tool with an English-language interface for Baidu advertising programs.<ref>{{cite web |date=6 November 2012 |title=Glogou Launches New Tools To Help Businesses Build Their Online Presence (And Ad Campaigns) In China |url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/11/06/glogou/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502211247/https://techcrunch.com/2012/11/06/glogou/ |archive-date=2 May 2018 |access-date=22 April 2013 |publisher=TechCrunch}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=作者：清辰 |date=7 November 2012 |title=不懂中文没关系 Glogou帮助外企进军中国_互联网_科技时代_新浪网 |url=http://tech.sina.com.cn/i/csj/2012-11-07/14387777422.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111174619/http://tech.sina.com.cn/i/csj/2012-11-07/14387777422.shtml |archive-date=11 November 2012 |access-date=22 April 2013 |publisher=Tech.sina.com.cn}}</ref> Paid advertising can only be used by advertisers with a registered business address either in China or in a list of other East Asian countries.<ref>{{cite web |date=27 April 2012 |title=Manage Baidu Ppc Registration |url=http://fr.slideshare.net/Open_Link/manage-baidu-ppc-registration?from=ss_embed |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140415110023/http://fr.slideshare.net/Open_Link/manage-baidu-ppc-registration?from=ss_embed |archive-date=15 April 2014 |access-date=15 July 2013}}</ref>

=== Pay for placement (P4P) ===
Baidu focuses on generating revenues primarily from online marketing services. Baidu's pay for placement (P4P) [[Computing platform|platform]] enables its customers to reach users who search for information related to their products or services. Customers use automated online tools to create text-based descriptions of their web pages and bid on [[Index term|keywords]] that trigger the display of their webpage information and link. Baidu's P4P platform features an automated online sign-up process that customers use to activate their accounts at any time. The P4P platform is an online marketplace that introduces Internet search users to customers who bid for priority [[Software:Favored placement|placement]] in the search results. Baidu also uses third-party distributors to sell some of its online marketing services to end customers and offers discounts to these distributors in consideration of their services.

Baidu offers certain consultative services, such as keyword suggestions, account management and performance reporting. Baidu suggests synonyms and associated phrases to use as keywords or text in search listings. These suggestions can improve clickthrough rates of the customer's listing and increase the likelihood that a user will enter into a transaction with the customer. Baidu also provides online daily reports of the number of clickthroughs, clicked keywords and the total costs incurred, as well as statistical reports organized by geographic region.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}} However, this too has invited criticism among Chinese internet users.

=== ProTheme ===
Baidu offers ProTheme services to some of its Baidu Union members, which enable these members to display on their properties its customers' [[Finance:Advertising campaign|promotional]] links that are relevant to the subject and content of such members' properties. Baidu generates revenues from ProTheme services based on the number of clicks on its customers' links and share the revenues with its Baidu Union members in accordance with pre-agreed terms. Baidu's fixed-ranking services allow customers to display query-sensitive text links at a designated location on its search results pages. Its Targetizement services enable customers to reach their targeted Internet users by displaying their advertisements only when their targeted Internet users browse Baidu's certain Web pages.

=== Baidu TV ===
Baidu operates its advertising service, Baidu TV, in partnership with Ads it! Media Corporation, an online advertising agency and technology company. Baidu TV provides advertisers access to the websites of its Baidu Union members, allowing advertisers to choose Websites on which they post their video advertisements with the aid of its advertisement targeting and matching system. It also offers a brand advertising service, Brand-Link. In June 2008, Baidu launched My Marketing Center, a customized platform integrating industry information, market trends and business, and industry news and reports to assist existing customers in their sales and marketing efforts. Other forms of its online advertising services allow customers to display query sensitive and non-query sensitive advertisements on its websites, including graphical advertisements.

== Baidu Union ==
Baidu Union consists of several third-party websites and software applications.<ref>{{cite web |title=百度联盟-让合作伙伴更强 |url=http://union.baidu.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140415112627/http://union.baidu.com/ |archive-date=15 April 2014 |access-date=29 August 2016}}</ref> Union members incorporate a Baidu search box or [[Toolbar|toolbar]] and match its sponsored links with the content on their properties. Their users can conduct search via the Baidu search box or toolbar and can click the sponsored links located on their properties. Baidu has also launched programs through which it displays the [[Finance:Online advertising|online advertising]] of its customers on Baidu Union websites, and share the fees generated by these advertisements with the owners of these Baidu Union websites. As of May 2011, there were 230,000 partner websites that displayed Baidu Union ads on their websites.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lin |first=Susan |title=Baidu's Content Network – Baidu Union |url=http://www.nanjingmarketinggroup.com/blog/baidu/baidus-content-network-baidu-union |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140406135629/http://www.nanjingmarketinggroup.com/blog/baidu/baidus-content-network-baidu-union |archive-date=6 April 2014 |access-date=22 April 2014 |website=NanjingMarketingGroup.com }}</ref>

== Competition ==
Baidu<ref>[http://www.statista.com/statistics/160829/annual-revenue-of-baidu-since-2007/ Statistics on Baidu's Annual Revenue] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424123208/http://www.statista.com/statistics/160829/annual-revenue-of-baidu-since-2007/ |date=24 April 2013 }}, Baidu. March 2013.</ref> competes with [[Company:Sogou|Sogou]], [[Software:Google Search|Google Search]], 360 Search (www.so.com), Yahoo! China, [[Company:Microsoft|Microsoft]]'s [[Software:Bing (search engine)|Bing]] and MSN Messenger, Sina, [[Company:NetEase|NetEase]]'s [[Software:Youdao|Youdao]] and PaiPai, [[Company:Alibaba Group|Alibaba]]'s [[Finance:Taobao|Taobao]], TOM Online, [[Software:DuckDuckGo|DuckDuckGo]], and EachNet.

Baidu is the most used search engine in China, controlling 76.05 percent of China's market share. The number of Internet users in China had reached 705 million by the end of 2015, according to a report by the internetlivestats.com.<ref>{{cite web |title=China Internet Users |url=http://www.internetlivestats.com/internet-users/china/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160430192940/http://www.internetlivestats.com/internet-users/china/ |archive-date=30 April 2016 |access-date=1 May 2016}}</ref>

In an August 2010 ''Wall Street Journal'' article,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fletcher |first=Owen |date=3 August 2010 |title=Baidu's CEO Pursues Long-Term Growth |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703999304575399162122796630?KEYWORDS=baidu |url-status=live |access-date=3 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171225070438/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703999304575399162122796630?KEYWORDS=baidu |archive-date=25 December 2017}}</ref> Baidu played down its benefit from [[Company:Google|Google]]'s having moved its China search service to [[Place:Hong Kong|Hong Kong]], but Baidu's share of revenue in China's search-advertising market grew six percentage points in the second quarter to 70%, according to Beijing-based research firm Analysys International.

It is also evident that Baidu is attempting to enter the Internet social network market. {{As of|2011}}, it is discussing the possibility of working with Facebook, which would lead to a Chinese version of the international social network, managed by Baidu.<ref>[http://www.thinkingchinese.com/index.php?page_id=255 传百度与Facebook签合作协议 – Baidu signed a cooperation agreement with Facebook] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323065324/http://www.thinkingchinese.com/index.php?page_id=255 |date=23 March 2012 }}, [http://www.thinkingchinese.com/ ThinkingChinese] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426031903/http://thinkingchinese.com/ |date=26 April 2011 }}, 14 April 2011</ref> This plan, if executed, would face off Baidu with competition from the three popular Chinese social networks [[Social:Qzone|Qzone]], [[Company:Renren|Renren]]<ref>{{cite web |title=人人网，中国领先的实名制SNS社交网络。加入人人网，找到老同学，结识新朋友。 |url=http://www.renren.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191107073459/http://renren.com/ |archive-date=7 November 2019 |access-date=6 December 2019}}</ref> and [[Social:Kaixin001|Kaixin001]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kaixin001.com/|title=开心网|website=www.kaixin001.com}}</ref> as well as induce rivalry with instant-messaging giant, [[Software:Tencent QQ|Tencent QQ]].<ref>[http://www.thinkingchinese.com/index.php?page_id=270 Baidu and QQ aren't willing to remain outside the Chinese Social Network market] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323065342/http://www.thinkingchinese.com/index.php?page_id=270 |date=23 March 2012 }}, [http://www.thinkingchinese.com/ ThinkingChinese] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426031903/http://thinkingchinese.com/ |date=26 April 2011 }}, April 2011</ref>

On 22 February 2012, Hudong submitted a complaint to the State Administration for Industry and Commerce asking for a review of the behavior of Baidu, accusing it of being monopolistic.<ref>Yang, Yang (杨阳 ''Yáng Yáng''). Translated by Guo Wei. "[http://www.eeo.com.cn/ens/Industry/2011/03/04/195125.shtml China's "Wikipedia" Submits Complaint about Baidu]." () ''The Economic Observer''. 4 March 2011. Issue 508, Corporation, Page 28. Retrieved on 26 October 2012. Original article: "[http://finance.ifeng.com/news/corporate/20110225/3503345.shtml 百度：我是大哥 我不叫度娘] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116102155/http://finance.ifeng.com/news/corporate/20110225/3503345.shtml |date=January 16, 2013 }}." Febinframe.php Archive]</ref>

By August 2014, Baidu's search market share in China has dropped to 56.3%, where Qihoo 360, its closest competitor who has rebranded its search engine as so.com, has increased its market share to 29.0%, according to report from CNZZ.com.<ref>{{cite web |last=Research |first=China Stock |date=1 September 2014 |title=China Search Engine Market Share – August 2014 |url=http://seekingalpha.com/article/2463495-china-search-engine-market-share-august-2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203120410/http://seekingalpha.com/article/2463495-china-search-engine-market-share-august-2014 |archive-date=3 December 2016 |access-date=29 August 2016}}</ref>

In February 2015, Baidu was alleged to use anticompetitive tactics in Brazil against the Brazilian online security firm PSafe and [[Company:Qihoo 360|Qihoo 360]] (the largest investor of PSafe).<ref>{{cite web |last=Ruvolo |first=Julie |title=Brazil Becomes A New Front In The Battle Between Baidu And Qihoo |url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/03/01/brazil-becomes-a-new-front-in-the-battle-between-baidu-and-qihoo/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924082747/https://techcrunch.com/2015/03/01/brazil-becomes-a-new-front-in-the-battle-between-baidu-and-qihoo/ |archive-date=24 September 2016 |access-date=29 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=14 April 2015 |title=Baidu's Alleged Anticompetitive Tactics in Brazil |url=http://www.thebrazillawblog.com/baidus-alleged-anticompetitive-tactics-in-brazil/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304091456/http://www.thebrazillawblog.com/baidus-alleged-anticompetitive-tactics-in-brazil/ |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=29 August 2016}}</ref>

In an ongoing competition in AI natural language processing called General Language Understanding Evaluation, otherwise known as GLUE, Baidu took a lead over Microsoft and Google in December 2019.<ref name="BaiduMITTechnologyReview">{{Cite web |title=Baidu has a new trick for teaching AI the meaning of language |url=https://www.technologyreview.com/2019/12/26/131372/ai-baidu-ernie-google-bert-natural-language-glue/ |access-date=23 September 2023 |website=MIT Technology Review |language=en}}</ref>

== Research and patents ==
Baidu has started to invest in [[Deep learning|deep learning]] research and is integrating new deep learning technology into some of its apps and products, including Phoenix Nest. Phoenix Nest is Baidu's ad-bidding platform.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hsu |first=Alex |date=15 July 2013 |title=Baidu Using Deep-Learning Technology to Boost Phoenix Nest Revenue |url=http://bw-original-reporting.tumblr.com/post/55521356692/baidu-using-deep-learning-technology-to-boost-phoenix |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105020459/http://bw-original-reporting.tumblr.com/post/55521356692/baidu-using-deep-learning-technology-to-boost-phoenix |archive-date=5 November 2013 |access-date=15 July 2013 |website=BrightWire News }}</ref>

In April 2012 Baidu JDC long live applied for a patent for its "DNA copyright recognition" technology. This technology automatically scans files that are uploaded by Internet users, and recognizes and filters out content that may violate copyright law. This allows Baidu to offer an infringement-free platform.<ref>{{cite web |title=Marvel Contest of Champions Hack Tool |url=http://hack4mobile.com/marvel-contest-champions-cheats-tool/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218054738/http://hack4mobile.com/marvel-contest-champions-cheats-tool/ |archive-date=18 February 2015 |website=hack4mobile.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Baidu Applies for DNA Copyright Recognition Technology Patent |url=http://www.brightwire.com/news/203281-baidu-applies-for-dna-copyright-recognition-technology-patent |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120619200937/http://www.brightwire.com/news/203281-baidu-applies-for-dna-copyright-recognition-technology-patent |archive-date=19 June 2012 |access-date=30 April 2012 |publisher=BrightWire }}</ref>

Baidu has applied for a utility patent in the {{wipe|United Kingdom}}, for its proprietary site-wise search technology which is currently available in China.{{citation needed|date=April 2013}}

Baidu has more than 7,000 published AI patent applications in China, the highest in the country. The AI open platform Baidu Brain has made available more than 250 core AI capabilities to over 1.9&nbsp;million developers, while PaddlePaddle, the largest open-source deep learning platform in China, services 84,000 enterprises. Industries throughout China are using the PaddlePaddle platform to create specialized applications for their sectors, from the automotive industry's acceleration of autonomous vehicles to the health-care industry's applications for fighting COVID-19.

In April 2022, Baidu announced they gained permits from China to provide the first driverless taxis. The company aim to provide driverless ride-hailing services to the public and have 10 autonomous cars set to begin offering rides to passengers within a 23-square-mile area in suburban begin beginning 28 April 2022.<ref>{{cite journal|date= 28 April 2022|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2022-04-28/china-grants-first-driverless-taxi-permits-to-baidu-pony-ai|title=China Grants First Driverless Taxi Permits to Baidu, Pony.ai|journal=U.S. News|access-date=28 April 2022}}</ref>

In July 2022, Baidu unveiled the Apollo RT6, a driverless vehicle that is planned to join Baidu's driverless fleet in 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-62237612 | title=Baidu unveils new self-driving taxi in China | publisher=BBC News  |access-date=21 July 2022 }}</ref>

== Censorship ==
According to the ''China Digital Times'', Baidu has a long history of being the most active and restrictive online censor in the search arena. Documents leaked in April 2009 from an employee in Baidu's internal monitoring and censorship department show a long list of blocked websites and censored topics on Baidu search.<ref>[http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2009/04/baidus-internal-monitoring-and-censorship-document-leaked/ Baidu's Internal Monitoring and Censorship Document Leaked (1)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214110403/http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2009/04/baidus-internal-monitoring-and-censorship-document-leaked/ |date=14 February 2012 }}, Xiao Qiang, ''China Digital Times'', 30 April 2009<br />[http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2009/04/baidus-internal-monitoring-and-censorship-document-leaked-2/ Baidu's Internal Monitoring and Censorship Document Leaked (2)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223052820/http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2009/04/baidus-internal-monitoring-and-censorship-document-leaked-2/ |date=23 February 2012 }}<br />[http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2009/04/baidus-internal-monitoring-and-censorship-document-leaked-3/ Baidu's Internal Monitoring and Censorship Document Leaked (3)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222060619/http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2009/04/baidus-internal-monitoring-and-censorship-document-leaked-3/ |date=22 February 2012 }}</ref>

In May 2011, activists sued Baidu in the United States for violating the U.S. Constitution by the censorship it conducts in accord with the demand of the Chinese government.<ref>Jonathan Stempel, "[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/19/china-baidu-sued-internet-censorship_n_864006.html China, Baidu Sued In U.S. For Internet Censorship] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522215127/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/19/china-baidu-sued-internet-censorship_n_864006.html |date=May 22, 2011 }}", ''Reuters'', 19 May 2011.</ref> A U.S. judge has ruled<ref>{{cite web |title=Zhang et al v. Baidu.Com Inc. et al |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/214981183/Zhang-et-al-v-Baidu-Com-Inc-et-al |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160606132750/https://www.scribd.com/doc/214981183/Zhang-et-al-v-Baidu-Com-Inc-et-al |archive-date=6 June 2016 |access-date=29 August 2016}}</ref> that the Chinese search engine Baidu has the right to block pro-democracy works from its query results under [[Philosophy:Freedom of speech|freedom of speech]] rights, dismissing a lawsuit that sought to punish the company for Internet censorship.<ref>{{cite web |title=Can China's Baidu search engine censor results in America? Sure, says a US court |url=https://www.pri.org/stories/2014-04-14/can-chinas-baidu-search-engine-censor-results-america-sure-says-us-court |access-date=7 October 2020 |website=The World from PRX |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Kan |first=Michael |date=28 March 2014 |title=US judge rules Baidu's censorship is protected as free speech |url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/2175632/us-judge-rules-baidu--39-s-censorship-is-protected-as-free-speech.html |access-date=7 October 2020 |website=Network World |language=en}}</ref>

In 2017, Baidu began coordinating with the Chinese Ministry of Public Security as well as 372 Internet police departments to detect information related to "anti-government rumors" and then flooding "Baidu-linked web sites, news sites and devices with alerts dispelling the so-called misinformation."<ref name=":9">{{cite web |title=China's Provinces at Forefront of Online Censorship Enforcement {{!}} Voice of America - English |url=https://www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/chinas-provinces-forefront-online-censorship-enforcement |access-date=7 October 2020 |website=www.voanews.com |language=en}}</ref> This was done using natural language processing, big data and artificial intelligence.<ref name=":9" />

As part of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese regulators instructed Baidu, along with other Internet companies, to "conduct special supervision" on news and information related to the [[Medicine:COVID-19|disease]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Critics Say China Has Suppressed And Censored Information In Coronavirus Outbreak |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/08/803766743/critics-say-china-has-suppressed-and-censored-information-in-coronavirus-outbrea |access-date=7 October 2020 |website=NPR.org |language=en}}</ref>

In November 2022, [[Company:Sustainalytics|Sustainalytics]] downgraded Baidu to "non-compliant" with the [[Organization:United Nations Global Compact|United Nations Global Compact]] principles due to complicity with censorship.<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 November 2022 |title=Tencent, Baidu, Weibo downgraded by Morningstar ESG unit over censorship |language=en |work={{wipe|Reuters}} |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/china-esg-downgrade-idUSL4N32320Q |access-date=17 November 2022}}</ref>

== Controversies ==

=== Death of Wei Zexi ===
In 2016, Baidu's P4P search results reportedly contributed to the death of a student who tried an experimental cancer therapy he found online. The 21-year-old college student was named Wèi Zéxī (魏则西), who studied in Xidian University. Wei was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, a rare form of cancer. He found the Second Hospital of the Beijing Armed Police Corps (武警北京市总队第二医院) through the search engine Baidu, on which the hospital had been promoting itself.<ref name=":8">{{cite web |last=Huang |first=Zheping |title=Baidu, China's version of Google, is "evil," a growing number of users say |url=https://qz.com/674030/baidu-chinas-version-of-google-is-evil-a-growing-number-of-users-say/ |access-date=7 October 2020 |website=Quartz |language=en}}</ref> The treatment proved unsuccessful and Wèi died in April 2016.<ref name=":8" />

After Wei's family spent around 200,000 yuan (around US$31,150) for treatment in the hospital, Wei Zexi died on 12 April 2016. The incident triggered massive online discussions after Wei's death.<ref>{{cite web |year=2016 |title=Commentary: Death of college student raises questions on Baidu's ethics |url=http://en.people.cn/n3/2016/0502/c90000-9052118.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503124350/http://en.people.cn/n3/2016/0502/c90000-9052118.html |archive-date=3 May 2016 |access-date=2 May 2016 |website=People's Daily}}</ref> On 2 May 2016, [[Organization:Cyberspace Administration of China|Cyberspace Administration of China]] (CAC), the top watchdog for China's Internet space, dispatched a team of investigators to Baidu.<ref>{{cite news |year=2016 |title=China Focus: Investigation into Baidu after student death |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-05/02/c_135328902.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504001554/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-05/02/c_135328902.htm |archive-date=4 May 2016 |access-date=2 May 2016 |agency=Xinhua News Agency}}</ref> The case is still ongoing. One report claimed medical advertising makes up for 30% of Baidu's ad revenue, much of which comes from for-profit hospitals that belong to the "Putian Network", a collection of hospitals across the country founded by medical entrepreneurs associated with the Putian region of Fujian province.<ref>{{cite web |year=2016 |title=Baidu, China's version of Google, is 'evil,' a growing number of users say |url=http://qz.com/674030/baidu-chinas-version-of-google-is-evil-a-growing-number-of-users-say/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503115528/http://qz.com/674030/baidu-chinas-version-of-google-is-evil-a-growing-number-of-users-say/ |archive-date=3 May 2016 |access-date=3 May 2016 |website=Quartz}}</ref> The investigation led Chinese regulators to impose several restrictions on Baidu, including adding disclaimers to promotional content and establishing channels for complaints about Baidu services.<ref>{{Cite news |title=China Orders Baidu to Revamp Advertising Results in Online Searches |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-orders-baidu-to-revamp-advertising-results-in-online-searches-1462798762 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623092806/https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-orders-baidu-to-revamp-advertising-results-in-online-searches-1462798762 |archive-date=23 June 2017 |access-date=5 March 2017 |website=The Wall Street Journal|date=10 May 2016 }}</ref> In addition, Baidu's search function now largely directs users to contents published on platforms under Baidu's control, leading Chinese media scholar Fang Kecheng to proclaim that "Search engine Baidu is dead".<ref>{{cite web |last=Huang |first=Echo |title=An obituary for Baidu argues China's vast internet has no search engine |url=https://qz.com/1530831/an-obituary-for-baidu-argues-chinas-vast-internet-has-no-search-engine/ |access-date=7 October 2020 |website=Quartz |language=en}}</ref>

=== Commercialization of Tieba ===
Baidu sold the hemophilia online community, one of the communities of Tieba, to unqualified hospitals. In January 2016, Baidu announced that it will stop selling all of its illness-related Tieba.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Meng |first=Jing |date=12 January 2016 |title=Baidu to halt commercialization of Tieba health forums |work=chinadaily.com.cn |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2016-01/12/content_23052646.htm |url-status=live |access-date=28 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114103504/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2016-01/12/content_23052646.htm |archive-date=14 January 2016}}</ref> On 12 January, Baidu officially announced to the public that all Baidu Tieba for all types of diseases will completely stop commercial cooperation and will only be open to authoritative public welfare organizations. In response to Baidu's decision, Lin Jinlong, president of the Hunan Medical and Health Industry Association, said that private hospitals have entered a period of industry transformation and upgrading, and are neither dependent on posting bar ads nor counting on competitive rankings anymore, so Baidu's decision will not have a negative impact on the industry.<ref>{{cite web |last1=刘巍 |last2=傅明 |title=百度迷途：藏在财报里的卖贴吧真相 |trans-title=Baidu Lost Its Way: The Fact of Selling Tieba Hidden in Financial Statements |url=http://www.time-weekly.com/wap-article/32395 |access-date=29 November 2021 |website=www.time-weekly.com |archive-date=29 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129164950/http://www.time-weekly.com/wap-article/32395 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===DO Global subsidiary ad-fraud in downloaded apps ===
On 20 April 2019, it was reported that several applications for [[Software:Android (operating system)|Android]] devices developed by the subsidiary company, DO Global (formerly DU Group), were surreptitiously running revenue enhancing background programs on user devices since at least 2016.<ref name="Silver" /> These programs, part of six known applications developed by the company, and downloaded hundreds of millions times, were [[Confused deputy problem|clicking on internet ads]] – even when the devices were idle, and unbeknownst to end users, to increase [[Pay-per-click|revenue generated by "clicks"]].<ref name="Silver">[https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/craigsilverman/google-play-store-ad-fraud-du-group-baidu ''Google Play Store Ad Fraud DU Group&#91;sic&#93; at Baidu''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420211632/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/craigsilverman/google-play-store-ad-fraud-du-group-baidu |date=20 April 2019 }}; Kothe, Ben; 20 April 2019; Article @ BuzzFeed News; text= ''Following a BuzzFeed News investigation, Google removed six apps from the Play store that belonged to a major Chinese developer.''; by-line date: 17 April 2019; by-line reporters: Silverman, Craig– & –Singer-Vine, Jeremy; Retrieved 20 April 2019</ref> Just one of the apps, all of which were available on Google Play Store, had been downloaded 50 million times alone and carried a user rating of 4.5 stars by tens of thousands.<ref name="Silver" />

Google banned DO Global and more than 100 of its apps from the Google Play Store on 26 April 2019.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last=Dellinger |first=AJ |date=26 April 2019 |title=Google bans developer with half a billion app downloads from Play Store |url=https://www.engadget.com/2019/04/26/google-bans-app-developer-do-global-play-store-ad-fraud/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427015740/https://www.engadget.com/2019/04/26/google-bans-app-developer-do-global-play-store-ad-fraud/ |archive-date=27 April 2019 |access-date=27 April 2019 |website=Engadget}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=29 April 2019 |title=Google Play Store Bans Baidu Subsidiary For Ad Fraud, Abuse of Permissions |url=https://app.beebom.com/google-play-store-bans-baidu-subsidiary-ad-fraud-abuse-permissions/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430072914/https://app.beebom.com/google-play-store-bans-baidu-subsidiary-ad-fraud-abuse-permissions/ |archive-date=30 April 2019 |access-date=30 April 2019 |website=Beebom |language=en-US}}</ref> DO Global was also banned from [[Company:AdMob|Google's AdMob]] Network.<ref name=":0" /> Apps from another developer, ES Global, including the [[Software:ES File Explorer|ES File Explorer]], that were owned by DO Global were banned from the Play Store and the account was suspended.<ref name=":2">{{cite web |last=Brett |date=30 April 2019 |title=ES File Explorer Removed From Google Play Store |url=https://troypoint.com/es-file-explorer-removed-from-google-play-store/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503233625/https://troypoint.com/es-file-explorer-removed-from-google-play-store/ |archive-date=3 May 2019 |access-date=3 May 2019 |website=Do It Yourself Tech Projects for Home & Small Business |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{cite web |last=Khan |first=Dawar |date=28 April 2019 |title=ES File Explorer Removed From Google Play Store [DO Scandal] |url=https://www.spicestech.com/2019/04/28/es-file-explorer-removed-from-google-play-store-do-scandal/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503233618/https://www.spicestech.com/2019/04/28/es-file-explorer-removed-from-google-play-store-do-scandal/ |archive-date=3 May 2019 |access-date=3 May 2019 |website=Spices Tech |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{cite web |date=29 April 2019 |title=QuickPic is back on Google Play Store while ES File Explorer disappears |url=https://www.xda-developers.com/quickpic-back-google-play-es-file-explorer-disappears/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503233616/https://www.xda-developers.com/quickpic-back-google-play-es-file-explorer-disappears/ |archive-date=3 May 2019 |access-date=3 May 2019 |website=xda-developers |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=WIRED |date=29 April 2019 |title=Monday briefing: England and Wales police demand phones from rape victims |magazine=Wired UK |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/wired-awake-290419 |url-status=live |access-date=3 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503233616/https://www.wired.co.uk/article/wired-awake-290419 |archive-date=3 May 2019 |issn=1357-0978}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{cite web |last=McKay |first=Tom |title=Google Is Giving the Boot to a Major Play Store Developer With More Than 600 Million Installs |url=https://gizmodo.com/google-is-giving-the-boot-to-a-major-play-store-develop-1834364322 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503233616/https://gizmodo.com/google-is-giving-the-boot-to-a-major-play-store-develop-1834364322 |archive-date=3 May 2019 |access-date=3 May 2019 |website=Gizmodo |date=28 April 2019 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{cite web |title=Exclusive: Google Is Banning A Play Store Developer With More Than Half A Billion App Installs |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/craigsilverman/google-ban-play-store-do-global-baidu |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428155916/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/craigsilverman/google-ban-play-store-do-global-baidu |archive-date=28 April 2019 |access-date=3 May 2019 |website=BuzzFeed News |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{cite web |title=Popular Android Apps From A Major Chinese Developer Were Caught Committing Ad Fraud |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/craigsilverman/google-play-store-ad-fraud-du-group-baidu |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420211632/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/craigsilverman/google-play-store-ad-fraud-du-group-baidu |archive-date=20 April 2019 |access-date=3 May 2019 |website=BuzzFeed News |language=en}}</ref>

=== Block in India ===
In August 2020, following the 2020 China–India skirmishes, Baidu was one of several Chinese websites that were banned or blocked in India for national security reasons.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Billman |first=Savannah |date=5 August 2020 |title=India widens China app ban to Baidu and Weibo |work=TechNode |url=https://technode.com/2020/08/05/india-widens-china-app-ban-to-baidu-and-weibo/ |access-date=5 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Murphy|first=John|date=29 June 2021|title=India Bans Chinese Websites And 118 Mobile Apps|url=https://www.strongiptv.co.uk/india-bans-websites-and-118-mobile-apps/|website=Strong IPTV}}</ref>

== See also ==

* Panguso
* [[Company:Tencent|Tencent]]
* [[Company:Sogou|Sogou]]
* [[Company:Alibaba Group|Alibaba]]
* [[Company:Google|Google]]
* Intellectual property in the People's Republic of China
* [[Software industry in China]]
* [[Software:Comparison of web search engines|Comparison of web search engines]]
* [[Software:List of search engines|List of search engines]]
* List of search engines by popularity

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* Lee, Melanie (19 January 2010). [https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTOE60H01S20100120 "NEWSMAKER-Baidu founder rules China's Web with pragmatism"]. {{wipe|Reuters}}.
* Udeze, Chuka (26 March 2012). [https://web.archive.org/web/20160309203745/http://techtalkafrica.com/apple-plans-to-integrate-baidu-search-on-ios-devices.html "Baidu Search to be Integrated by Apple on iOS Devices"].
* Kohout, Martin (30 October 2014). [http://freebit.cz/spyware-baidu-se-stava-nocni-murou-telefonu-xperia/ "Spyware Baidu to Sony Xperia smartphones"]. FreeBit.cz.

== External links ==
{{Finance links
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| google = BIDU
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