Artificial Intelligence (AI) typically demonstrates at least some of the following behaviors associated with human intelligence: planning, learning, reasoning, problem solving, knowledge representation, perception, motion, and social intelligence and creativity.

The most popular AI techniques, known collectively as “machine learning”, allow a machine to learn a task without being programmed with explicit instructions. However, the world is worried about AI taking over every aspect of our lives. In fact, in 2019, Marc Andreessen famously said that “Software is eating the world”. However, some experts believe that the rise of AI will make most people better off. Over the next decade, advances in AI will affect what it means to be human, to be productive and to exercise free will.

China is on its way to becoming the first global superpower for AI. With the the most ambitious AI strategy of all nations, The People’s Republic of China provides the most resources worldwide for AI implementation. Therefore, China combines a lot of research, talent, companies and capital with a gigantic amount of data to build the world’s leading AI ecosystem.

Top AI companies in China 

SenseTime

SenseTime is a global leading company which develops AI based technologies that aim to benefit the world’s economies, society and humanity. It offers face recognition technology that can be applied to payment and picture analysis. Established in Hong Kong, it also has offices across China, Singapore, Japan, Abu Dhabi and United States. Furthermore, it was the world’s first AI Unicorn and is currently valued at over US$ 7.7B. In addition, it is the world’s most-funded AI pure-play company with the highest valuation.

Founded: In 2014 by Tang Xiaoou and Xu Li

Total Funding Raised: US$ 2.6B

Investors: Alibaba Temasek Suning, Silver Lake Partners Tiger Global Management Qualcomm Ventures Fidelity HOPU Fund, SoftBank

Bytedance

ByteDance operates a range of content platforms, encouraging and inspiring creation and communication. It is one of the first companies to launch mobile-first products powered by machine learning technology. Its current apps include TikTok, Helo (an Indian social media app), Vigo Video (formerly Hypstar), Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok), BaBe (an Indonesian news and content app) and Huoshan (a Chinese short-form video app.

Founded: In 2012 by Yiming Zhang

Total Funding Raised: US$ 4.3B

Investors: Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, General Atlantic, Primavera Capital Group, Bank of China, Softbank, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Co., Wing Lung Bank

UBTECH Robotics

A leading AI and humanoid robotics company, UBTECH Robotics is the global leader in intelligent humanoid robots. In addition to assisting and entertaining in households, the company’s interactive robots also aim to serve the public and accelerate STEM education for children. Moreover, UBTECH has grown its worldwide research, design, development, manufacturing, sales, and marketing capabilities to successfully launch an entire portfolio of world-class robots. Some of these include consumer humanoid robots, enterprise service robots, and STEM skill-building robots for kids at home with JIMU Robot and in the classroom through UBTECH Education.

Founded: In 2012 by Zhou Jian

Total Funding Raised: US$ 943M

Investors: Zhengxuan Holdings, Qiming Ventures, iFlyTek, China Galaxy, Tencent, ICBC

Rokid

Specializing in research and product development of Mixed Reality and AI, Rokid provides extreme user experience, robust enterprise solutions, and superior products for development communities. Rokid’s mission is to “leave nobody behind”. Consequently, this passion motivates the company to make a positive and powerful impact on a broad range of industries. Recently, Rokid launched COVID-19 detection glasses in United States known as T1 thermal glasses. They use an infrared sensor which can detect temperatures of up to 200 people from as far as three meters within two minutes.

Founded: In 2014 by Eric Wong, Mingming Zhu

Total Funding Raised: US$ 160M

Investors: Temasek Holdings, IDG Capital, Credit Suisse, CDIB Capital

MEGVII

Beijing based AI technology company, MEGVII designs facial recognition and deep-learning software for businesses and for the public sector. MEGVII’s fullstack solutions encompass algorithms, software and AI-empowered IoT devices. Additionally, it is one of the very few companies in the world to develop proprietary deep learning frameworks like Brain++. It provides critical support for algorithmic training and model improvement processes. Furthermore, MEGVII develops each new algorithm with fewer human efforts and shorter time.

Founded: In 2011 by Yin Qi, Tang Wenbin, Yang Mu

Total Funding Raised: US$ 1.5B

Investors: Macquarie Group Bank of China Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Alibaba Group Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Alibaba Boyu Capital

Roobo

An intelligent hardware technology developer, Roobo’s products include robots, assorted AI for robots, and a neural network processing chip. Domgy, one of Roobo’s robot, has automated navigation capabilities and is positioned for companionship. On the other hand, the company’s Farnese robot is a service robot, tailored to the needs of commercial sector. The company’s Rosai AI software allows for easier interaction with the robots and provides an SDK for developers.

Founded: In 2014 by Bruce Liu

Total Funding Raised: US$ 153M

Investors: Seven Seas Partners and Iflytek

Mobvoi

Mobvoi’s aim is to create a more natural and intuitive way for people to interact with machines and therefore defining the next generation of human-machine interaction. As a company driven by technological innovation, Mobvoi has developed a series of proprietary AI technologies. Therefore, the company aims to establish an “end-to-end” human-computer interaction system architecture. Some of these include speech signal processing, wake words, speech recognition, natural language understanding, dialogue management, vertical search, speech synthesis, and knowledge graph.

Founded: In 2012 by Zhifei Li Yuanyuan Li

Total Funding Raised: US$ 75M

Investors: Sequoia Capital, Zhenfund, SIG, Perfect Optronics Ltd, GoerTek, Google

Liulishuo

As the world’s leading AI + Education company, Liulishuo has developed the world’s first AI English Teacher based on deep learning. It provides a personalized and adaptive learning path for every learner. Liulishuo has created professional solutions for English students that are convenient, effective and feasible. In addition, the company’s proprietary AI teacher utilizes cutting-edge deep learning, big data, adaptive learning technologies, and well-established education pedagogies.

Founded: In 2012 by Yi Wang, Hui Lin and Ben Hu

Total Funding Raised: US$ 129M

Investors: IDG Capital, Cherubic Ventures, GGV Capital, Trustbridge Partners, Hearst Ventures

Appier 

Appier is an AI based company which aims to provide various platforms to help enterprises solve their most challenging business problems. Some of Appier’s platforms include AIQUA, AIXON, CrossX, AiDeal. AIQUA is a customer engagement platform that helps leverage AI to increase conversations across devices on marketing channels. AIXON is a data science platform enriching customer data to run AI models easily predict future actions. Through AI, CrossX predicts the best audience segments and the best bidding price based on how individual users behave across multiple screens. Basically, it ensures that the right people receive the right creative at the right time and place. AiDeal uses Advanced ML to identify people most likely to complete a purchase with an immediate and customized offer.

Founded: In 2012 by Chih-Han Yu, Joe Su, and Winnie Lee

Total Funding Raised: US$ 162M

Investors: UMC Capital, Temasek Holdings, Pavilion Capital, HOPU-Arm Innovation Fund, JAFCO Japan, TG Vest Capital, AMTD Group, Line Corporation

Tianrang

Tianrang is committed to building the first platform of universal artificial intelligence through professional AI technology. It aims to help enterprises, government agencies and individuals to build a proprietary AI engine to solve daily life and work problems. Overall, the company wants to promote the development of Chinese AI technology through deep learning, intensive learning, machine learning and other technologies.

Founded: In 2016 by Xu Guirong

Total Funding Raised: US$ 26M

Investors: Purple Bull Startups, Wacai.com, CMB International Capital Corporation, Gaorong Capital

 

Investocracy, a company focused on connecting startups from emerging markets with Japanese investors, produced this article. 

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