History of Baidu in Timeline

Baidu, Inc. is a prominent Chinese technology company specializing in internet-related services. Headquartered in Beijing, it holds a commanding position in China's search engine market. Beyond search, Baidu offers a diverse range of services, including the online encyclopedia Baidu Baike, the video platform iQIYI, and the social forum Baidu Tieba.

May 1994: Robin Li Joins IDD Information Services

Robin Li joined IDD Information Services, a division of Dow Jones and Company, in May 1994. He worked on developing software for the online edition of The Wall Street Journal and search engine algorithms.

1996: RankDex Launch and Patent

Li developed and launched RankDex in 1996, and received a US patent for the site-scoring algorithm. RankDex was the first search engine to use hyperlinks to assess website quality.

1996: RankDex Search Engine Development

Robin Li developed RankDex, a search engine that used hyperlinks to measure website quality, in 1996. This technology later became foundational to Baidu's search engine.

June 1997: Robin Li Leaves IDD Information Services

Robin Li left IDD Information Services in June 1997.

1998: Google's PageRank Algorithm

Google's PageRank, a similar algorithm to RankDex, was released in 1998. Google founder Larry Page cited Li's work in some of his patents for PageRank.

January 2000: Baidu Founded

Baidu was founded in January 2000 by Robin Li and Eric Xu.

January 2000: Baidu's Incorporation

Robin Li and Eric Xu incorporated Baidu on January 18, 2000.

2001: Introduction of Paid Search Advertising

Baidu introduced a paid search advertising model in 2001, allowing advertisers to bid for ad space and pay per click. This predated Google's similar approach.

2003: Launch of News and Picture Search Engines

Baidu launched its news and picture search engines in 2003, incorporating technology for article identification and grouping.

August 2005: Public Listing on Wall Street

Baidu went public on Wall Street on August 5, 2005, through a variable interest entity (VIE) based in the Cayman Islands.

December 2007: Inclusion in NASDAQ-100 Index

Baidu became the first Chinese company included in the NASDAQ-100 index in December 2007.

June 2008: Baidu launches My Marketing Center

In June 2008, Baidu introduced My Marketing Center, a platform offering industry insights, market trends, business news, and reports to support its advertising customers.

April 2009: Leaked documents reveal Baidu's extensive censorship practices

In April 2009, leaked documents shed light on Baidu's stringent censorship practices, revealing a vast list of blocked websites and censored search terms, raising concerns about online freedom of information.

January 2010: Baidu.com DNS hijacked by suspected Iranian Cyber Army

In January 2010, Baidu.com's DNS records were altered, redirecting users to a page claiming an attack by the Iranian Cyber Army. The attack, attributed to a security breach at Register.com, disrupted Baidu's services for hours.

August 2010: Baidu's market share in search advertising grows

In August 2010, following Google's relocation of its China search service to Hong Kong, Baidu's share of China's search-advertising market rose to 70%.

May 2011: Baidu Union reaches 230,000 partner websites

By May 2011, Baidu Union expanded to include 230,000 partner websites displaying its ads.

May 2011: Baidu sued for censorship, U.S. judge upholds company's right to block content

In May 2011, activists filed a lawsuit against Baidu in the United States, alleging violations of the U.S. Constitution due to its censorship practices. However, a U.S. judge ruled in favor of Baidu, upholding the company's right to block content under freedom of speech principles.

2011: Baidu explores partnership with Facebook to enter the social network market

In 2011, Baidu explored a potential partnership with Facebook to create a Chinese version of the social network, aiming to compete with Qzone, Renren, Kaixin001, and Tencent QQ.

February 2012: Hudong files antitrust complaint against Baidu

In February 2012, Hudong filed a complaint with the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, accusing Baidu of engaging in monopolistic practices.

April 2012: Baidu patents "DNA copyright recognition" technology

In April 2012, Baidu secured a patent for its "DNA copyright recognition" technology, enabling automatic detection and filtering of copyright-infringing content uploaded by users, reinforcing its commitment to providing an infringement-free online environment.

July 2012: Partnership with Sina for Mobile Search

Baidu announced a partnership with Sina on July 31, 2012, to provide mobile search results.

August 2012: Baidu employees arrested on bribery allegations

In August 2012, three Baidu employees were arrested for allegedly accepting bribes to delete forum posts, leading to their arrests and the firing of four individuals.

November 2012: Partnership with Qualcomm for Cloud Storage

Baidu announced a partnership with Qualcomm on November 18, 2012, to offer free cloud storage to Android users with Snapdragon processors.

July 2013: Baidu announces intention to acquire 91 Wireless

In July 2013, Baidu declared its plan to acquire 91 Wireless from NetDragon.

August 2013: Launch of Personal Assistant App

Baidu launched its Personal Assistant app on August 2, 2013, designed for business professionals to manage their relationships.

August 2013: Baidu finalizes acquisition of 91 Wireless for $1.85 billion

In August 2013, Baidu finalized the acquisition of 91 Wireless for $1.85 billion, marking a significant deal in China's IT sector.

May 2014: Appointment of Dr. Andrew Ng as Chief Scientist

Baidu appointed Dr. Andrew Ng as chief scientist in May 2014 to lead Baidu Research in Silicon Valley and Beijing.

July 2014: Launch of Baidu Busca in Brazil

On July 18, 2014, Baidu launched a Brazilian version of its search engine, Baidu Busca.

August 2014: Baidu's search market share declines as Qihoo 360 (so.com) gains traction

By August 2014, Baidu's search market share in China decreased to 56.3%, while its competitor, Qihoo 360 (so.com), increased its share to 29.0%.

October 2014: Acquisition of Peixe Urbano

Baidu announced the acquisition of Brazilian e-commerce site Peixe Urbano on October 9, 2014.

February 2015: Baidu accused of anticompetitive practices in Brazil

In February 2015, Baidu faced allegations of employing anticompetitive tactics in Brazil against Brazilian online security company PSafe and its investor, Qihoo 360.

2015: Baidu dominates China's search engine market

By 2015, Baidu became the leading search engine in China, commanding a significant market share of 76.05% with 705 million internet users in the country.

January 2016: Baidu stops selling illness-related Tieba

In January 2016, Baidu announced it would stop commercial cooperation for all its illness-related Tieba and open them only to authoritative public welfare organizations.

April 2016: Wei Zexi dies after experimental cancer therapy

In April 2016, Wei Zexi, a 21-year-old college student diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, died after undergoing an unsuccessful experimental cancer therapy he found through Baidu's search engine.

May 2016: Chinese regulators investigate Baidu

On 2 May 2016, following the death of Wei Zexi, Chinese regulators investigated Baidu, leading to restrictions on its medical advertising practices and a shift in its search function.

2016: DO Global apps engage in click fraud

Since at least 2016, DO Global, a Baidu subsidiary, had apps surreptitiously clicking on internet ads in the background to increase revenue, unbeknownst to users.

April 2017: Announcement of Apollo Project

Baidu announced its Apollo project, a self-driving vehicle platform, in April 2017, aiming to advance autonomous car development.

June 2017: Partnerships with Continental and Bosch

Baidu partnered with automotive suppliers Continental and Bosch in June 2017 to collaborate on automated driving and connected cars.

July 2017: Planned Launch of Apollo Project

Baidu planned to launch its Apollo project in July 2017.

September 2017: Launch of Autonomous Driving Fund and Apollo 1.5

Baidu launched a $1.5 billion autonomous driving fund and released Apollo open-source software version 1.5 in September 2017.

September 2017: Launch of Talking Translator and AI Investments

In September 2017, Baidu introduced a portable talking translator and announced plans to integrate AI technology into smartphones. It also led a joint investment in China Unicom alongside Alibaba, Tencent, JD.com, and Didi Chuxing.

October 2017: Plans for Self-Driving Buses

According to The Wall Street Journal, Baidu planned to launch self-driving buses in China in 2018.

November 2017: First Annual Baidu World Technology Conference

Baidu's first annual Baidu World technology conference was held on November 16, 2017, focusing on the company's AI advancements and ecosystem.

2017: Baidu coordinates with Chinese Internet police

In 2017, Baidu began working with the Chinese Ministry of Public Security and 372 Internet police departments to detect and counteract 'anti-government rumors' by using natural language processing, big data, and artificial intelligence.

2017: Partnership with Snap Inc.

In 2017, Baidu's Global Business Unit partnered with Snap Inc. to become the official ad reseller for Snapchat in several Asian markets.

May 2018: Market Cap Reaches US$99 Billion

Baidu's market cap reached US$99 billion in May 2018.

October 2018: Joining the Partnership on AI

Baidu became the first Chinese firm to join the Partnership on AI, a US-based computer ethics consortium, in October 2018.

2018: Planned Launch of Self-Driving Buses

Baidu planned to launch self-driving buses in China in 2018.

2018: Divestment of Global DU Business

In 2018, Baidu divested its Global DU business, which developed various utility apps. The business now operates independently as DO Global.

2018: Baidu's paid search results draw criticism

In 2018, Baidu faced criticism and skepticism from Chinese users and media outlets like People's Daily regarding the reliability of its search results due to the prominence of paid advertisers.

2018: Recognition as an "AI Champion"

The Chinese government named Baidu one of its "AI champions" in 2018.

April 2019: Apps by DO Global caught in click fraud

On 20 April 2019, it was reported that several Android apps developed by DO Global, a Baidu subsidiary, were running revenue-enhancing background programs that clicked on internet ads without user knowledge.

April 2019: Google bans DO Global apps

On 26 April 2019, Google banned DO Global and more than 100 of its apps from the Google Play Store and AdMob Network due to click fraud activities.

December 2019: Baidu surpasses Microsoft and Google in AI natural language processing competition

In December 2019, Baidu took the lead over Microsoft and Google in the GLUE (General Language Understanding Evaluation) competition, showcasing its advancements in AI natural language processing.

2019: Partnership Extension with Snap Inc.

Baidu extended its partnership with Snap Inc. in 2019.

August 2020: India bans Baidu

In August 2020, following the China-India skirmishes, Baidu was banned in India for national security reasons.

2020: Target for Fully Autonomous Driving

Baidu aimed to introduce fully autonomous driving capabilities on highways and open city roads by 2020.

August 2021: Robocar Concept Reveal

Baidu unveiled a new Robocar concept in August 2021, claiming Level 5 autonomous driving capability and featuring a second-generation AI chip for analyzing surroundings and predicting passenger needs.

April 2022: Baidu receives permits for driverless taxi services in China

In April 2022, Baidu obtained permits to operate the first fully driverless taxi services in China, with plans to launch 10 autonomous vehicles in a designated area starting on April 28, 2022.

June 2022: Jidu Auto's ROBO-01 Concept Unveiling

In June 2022, Jidu Auto, supported by Baidu and Geely, unveiled its first concept vehicle, the ROBO-01, built on Geely's SEA platform.

July 2022: Baidu introduces the Apollo RT6 driverless vehicle

In July 2022, Baidu unveiled its latest driverless vehicle, the Apollo RT6, slated to join its autonomous fleet in 2023.

November 2022: Sustainalytics downgrades Baidu

In November 2022, Sustainalytics downgraded Baidu to 'non-compliant' with United Nations Global Compact principles due to its involvement in censorship.

August 2023: Public Unveiling of Ernie Bot

Baidu publicly unveiled its ChatGPT-equivalent language model, Ernie Bot, in August 2023.

October 2023: Release of Ernie 4.0 Chatbot

Baidu released a newer version of its chatbot, Ernie 4.0, in October 2023.

2023: Baidu's Apollo RT6 set to join driverless fleet

Baidu plans to integrate the Apollo RT6 into its driverless fleet in 2023, expanding its presence in the autonomous vehicle market.

May 2024: Baidu VP sparks backlash over toxic workplace culture

In May 2024, Baidu's former VP Qu Jing faced backlash for endorsing toxic workplace culture by asking a coworker to go on a 50-day business trip during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to her resignation and a drop in Baidu's stock price.