Chinese Search Giant, Baidu Working on Self-Driving Car

What else is common between world's two largest Internet search giant?  Google has been working furiously on developing autonomous car for many years, and Baidu is apparently have been working on its version secretly

Google has announced recently that the company's self-driving cars will be made available to public in five years.  Baidu, on the other hand, announced today that they are ready to showcase their futuristic car sometime this year.

Baidu's announcement was made during China Cloud Computing conference by the company's senior vice president Jin Wang.  Baidu's team as been working with unnamed automaker.  This puts Baidu in a rapidly growing group of technology companies eager to develop the next generation car.

Interestingly the team from Baidu worked with BMW to create semi-autonomous car in the past.  We don't know what happened with that project.  However, Baidu do not believe in Google's approach in developing fully autonomous vehicle.  The head of Yu Kai lab from Baidu is leaning toward a technology that will provide driver a greater level of freedom while driving, still retaining pedals and a steering wheel.

We'll have to wait a few more months to see if Baidu can be worthy contender for Google and Apple when it comes to artificial intelligence and automotive technology.