Robin Li on application-driven AI innovation

Why it matters

Baidu founder Robin Li in an English interview at the World Governments Summit 2025 with the UAE AI minister. He systematically lays out a perspective Silicon Valley often ignores — 'Don't focus on models, focus on applications': Baidu has been application-driven since 2023, training model capabilities only for core scenarios (search, digital humans, autonomous driving). His answers on 'who should build AI infrastructure' and 'regulation without killing innovation' are notably pragmatic.

Key takeaways

• 'Don't focus on models, focus on applications' — Baidu has been application-driven since 2023.
• LLM inference costs dropped 90%+ in a year, far outpacing the computer revolution's cost curve — now is the best time to build apps.
• AI infrastructure should be built by a few large companies, but the application layer must bloom — this is the healthy 'pyramid' structure.
• Autonomous driving: Baidu Apollo has deployed robotaxis in 10 Chinese cities — AI + transportation is a multi-trillion market.
• Regulation advice: regulate application behavior, not model R&D — govern how it's used, not how it's built.