AI Requires Ongoing Investment, Says Baidu's Robin Li

Robin Li, the co-founder and CEO of Baidu Inc., emphasized the need for continued investment in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. His remarks came during the World Governments Summit held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Li pointed out that even with challenges arising from AI startups like DeepSeek, which is making waves with its cost-efficient language model, the investment in essential components like chips, data centers, and cloud infrastructure remains vital for developing advanced AI models.

Li stated, "When technology is still evolving at such a rapid rate, you just cannot stop investing. You have to invest to make sure that you are at the very front of this technological innovation or revolution." His call for investment underscores the belief that maintaining a leadership position in AI requires robust financial support and resources.

DeepSeek's emergence has raised important discussions about the cost of developing large language models. Their model, known as R1, competes closely with prominent models from companies like OpenAI. Notably, DeepSeek's approach has demonstrated that effective innovation can be achieved with lower costs and reduced computing power. This raises questions about the necessity for extensive AI infrastructure investments.

The CEO of Baidu noted that DeepSeek’s success illustrates the importance of fostering an environment conducive to experimentation and creativity. He said, "Innovation can't be planned. You don't know when and where the innovation comes. What you can do is just to foster an environment that is conducive to innovation." This perspective captures how essential it is to create spaces where new ideas and technologies can flourish.

Baidu itself was quick to respond to the AI trend, launching its own AI model, Ernie Bot, shortly after the release of OpenAI's ChatGPT. Li expressed optimism regarding the future of AI, stating that, even at the current stage, large language models can generate significant value in various applications. He also shared insights into cost reduction, noting that the inference cost associated with foundational models could decrease by over 90% within a year.

He explained, "If you can reduce the cost by a certain percentage, then that means your productivity increases by that kind of percentage. I think that's pretty much the nature of innovation." This statement emphasizes how innovation not only drives technological advancement but also enhances productivity and efficiency across multiple sectors.

AI, Investment, Innovation