Baidu says it can now operate robotaxis in Beijing with no human staff inside

BEIJING — Chinese tech institution Baidu announced Friday it tin present run robotaxis successful a portion of the superior metropolis of Beijing with nary quality unit oregon operator inside.

The determination eliminates the labour outgo for operating self-driving taxis — up to the permitted fig of cars.

The authorities support initially covers 10 vehicles successful the Beijing suburb of Yizhuang, which is location to galore corporations specified arsenic JD.com.

The suburb is the superior tract of Baidu's robotaxi nationalist roadworthy investigating and cognition successful Beijing city. In November 2021, section authorities allowed Baidu and rival robotaxi relation Pony.ai to complaint fares for rides.

Public transport users tin publication heavy subsidized robotaxi rides done the companies' apps.

Baidu shares 12-month performance.

Baidu shares concisely soared by much than 15% during Hong Kong trading connected Friday.

The banal closed astatine eight-week lows Thursday aft the company revealed its artificial intelligence-powered Ernie bot, a Chinese-language rival to ChatGPT. CEO Robin Li said the company's Ernie bot was not perfect, and emphasized the request to amended the product.