Baidu to Launch Its First Smartphone Product Next Week

Baidu, the Beijing-based internet giant, is set to unveil its first smartphone product under its Xiaodu unit, similar to Amazon's Alexa division, as it expands its hardware ecosystem. Xiaodu has developed smart speakers and displays, with its DuerOS conversational AI system already embedded in Baidu's major business lines, including search, autonomous driving and smart gadgets. The smartphone market has been struggling, with sales pressured by thin profit margins for Chinese manufacturers and leadership by Apple and Samsung. Observers have yet to judge how significantly Baidu's entry into the market will impact it and whether the company is being ambitious enough to succeed.