Baidu, China’s biggest search engine, said Lu Qi, who oversaw its shift to artificial intelligence (AI), will be stepping down as chief operating officer.
Baidu hired Lu Qi, who is a former Microsoft executive and AI expert, in late 2016, after a damaging ad scandal in 2016.
Lu Qi is currently responsible for day-to-day operations in its AI unit, which has become the company’s core focus in the past year.
Lu Qi will remain vice chairman of Baidu. Baidu said vice president Wang Haifeng will manage the company’s AI projects.
