Robin Li, co-founder and CEO of Baidu, emphasized that the current revolution in artificial intelligence (AI) is progressing much faster than the computer revolution at the turn of the millennium.

Speaking on the first day of the Global Government Summit, Li participated in a discussion moderated by Omar Sultan Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications.

Li stated, "In China, we innovate to reduce the costs associated with AI due to the constraints we face; prices in China are significantly lower than those in the United States.

Therefore, we must invent lower-cost technologies to ensure viability and functionality." He noted that nearly all industries are closely linked to cost reduction and highlighted that a 30% decrease in AI costs could lead to faster transformations across sectors.

Li pointed out that substantial investment is currently directed towards semiconductor manufacturing, cloud infrastructure, and language models.

He stressed, "With technology evolving at such a rapid pace, we cannot stop investing; investment will position us at the forefront of the technological revolution."

Concerns regarding AI were also addressed by Li, who expressed worries about regulatory environments.

He mentioned, "Currently, advanced technologies are not widely applicable, and the rapid pace of technological advancement raises concerns.

While we are amazed at today's achievements, even in six months, advancements from us and our competitors will surpass what we have now, especially as the competition intensifies."

Li acknowledged some of the risks associated with innovations, stating that while robots have proven to be ten times safer than humans, accidents, particularly in traffic, remain a concern.

He emphasized the importance of understanding the causes of incidents and making necessary adjustments to avert them.

"We have been working for three years without encountering serious incidents involving our robotaxis," he noted.

He emphasized the necessity of investing in computing and cloud infrastructure to achieve a breakthrough model that surpasses existing options.

Li expressed optimism about the future of AI, even with the current advanced language models that have the capacity to generate significant value.

Li reflected on the use of their models by hundreds of thousands of scientists to enhance efficiencies in areas such as recruitment, e-commerce, home care, and energy production.

He indicated that significant advancements are being made in generative AI, which is spreading rapidly and creating better innovation opportunities across applications.