Google announces new AI research center in China

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Google has announced that it is launching a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) research center in Beijing.

The research center is an important part of the collective mission of the world's largest search engine giant based in Silicon Valley on the U.S. west coast, said Li Feifei, chief scientist of Google Cloud AI and Machine Learning, on the Google blog website on Wednesday.

"I believe AI and its benefits have no borders. Whether a breakthrough occurs in Silicon Valley, Beijing or anywhere else, it has the potential to make everyone's life better for the entire world," Li said.

The facility would be the first of its kind in Asia and would aim to employ local talent, she added.

She noted that the center, with its primary focus on basic AI research, will consist of a team of AI researchers in Beijing.

"We've already hired some top experts, and will be working to build the team in the months ahead," she said.

Li said Google has seen its enterprise partners using AI to transform their businesses in fascinating ways at an astounding pace and the technology has started to shape human life in more profound ways.

Google has hired about 74,000 full-time employees worldwide by 2017. Enditem