Chinese internet search giant Baidu is accelerating its hunt for artificial intelligence (AI) talent with its largest-ever recruitment drive focused on the industry, as technology giants race to secure scarce expertise in the fast-growing sector.
The Beijing-based firm said in a statement that job openings in its so-called AIDU annual recruitment drive – an initiative to attract and develop future AI tech leaders – had surged 60 per cent this year. The company did not specify the total number of positions.
Baidu is seeking candidates across 23 of its core businesses and 11 research areas, including large language model (LLM) algorithms, foundational LLM architecture, machine learning, speech technologies and AI agents, according to the statement released over the weekend.
“Baidu will train future AI navigators the way pilots are trained,” the company said, underscoring its commitment to the escalating battle for top-tier AI professionals.
The push mirrors similar moves by rivals ByteDance and Alibaba Group Holding, as competition for skilled AI workers intensifies amid surging demand and a limited supply of qualified candidates.
TikTok owner ByteDance in March kicked off a recruitment campaign under its Top Seed programme, targeting research interns for projects it describes as having “global influence”. Alibaba, owner of the South China Morning Post, earlier this year sought to expand its AI workforce by opening thousands of positions and offering fast-tracked promotions for new graduates. More than half of its internships are tied to AI, according to the e-commerce giant.
