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Baidu Introduces AI and Agent-Driven Innovations at Annual Mobile Ecosystem Event to Transform Mobile Experience

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Baidu presented its latest advances across a range of its mobile products, including Baidu Search, Baidu Wenku, and the Baidu App, all seamlessly integrated with ERNIE agents.The revamped Baidu Wenku provides over 100 multimodal AI features, which have been used more than 1.5 billion times by over 140 million users.Baidu AgentBuilder has served over 160,000 developers and users and more than 50,000 enterprises, covering over 100 application scenarios.

SUZHOU, China, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Baidu, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU and HKEX: 9888), a leading AI company with a strong Internet foundation, unveiled its latest progress across its mobile ecosystem on Thursday, including Baidu Search, the ERNIE Bot App, the Baidu App, Baidu Wenku, among others – all strategically integrated with large language models (LLMs) and ERNIE agents. The announcements, made at the Wanxiang Conference 2024, an annual event for Baidu’s Mobile Ecosystem Group (MEG), mark the company’s latest commitment to lower the entry barrier for individuals and enterprises to fully harness the power of AI.

“Agent means productivity,” said Jackson He, Senior Corporate Vice President of Baidu and General Manager of MEG, in his keynote speech “Making agents accessible to everyone” at the conference. “[With agents], everyone can create and be equipped with superpowers.”

Baidu’s Mobile Ecosystem offers a uniquely advantageous platform to develop and grow agents, enhancing content and services for hundreds of millions of users.

Core services like Baidu Search are already AI-augmented, with 11% of search result pages filled with generated results. For creative needs such as presentation visuals, the Baidu AI Image Assistant can generate and even “edit” images simply by inputting text prompts.On Baidu App, users can now access the Interactive Channel, where they can engage in multi-turn dialogue, as well as tag specialized agents to address various issues.Baidu Wenku, an integrated platform for document archiving, content creation, and content sharing, has now evolved into an AI-assisted “one-stop shop” for content consumption and creation. With a collection of 1.2 billion high-quality document resources, Baidu Wenku provides over 100 multimodal AI features, which have been used more than 1.5 billion times by over 140 million users.Baidu Wenku also introduced Chengpian, a new AI application able to execute complex tasks, including professional knowledge retrieval and Q&A, extended image-text understanding and generation, in-depth article editing and organization, as well as cross-modal freestyle creation.ERNIE Bot App, Baidu’s generative AI app, now plays the role of a 24/7 online personal intelligent assistant, providing one-on-one assistance and meeting diverse needs.

For enterprise partners, agents offer the key to unlocking the vast potential of foundation models to enable intelligent transformation. Agents can help to solve many longstanding business operations needs, such as enhancing supply-demand matching and increasing operational efficiency.

In the e-commerce sector, Baidu Select, launched in May 2023, leverages advanced AI tools such as merchant knowledge graphs and ERNIE, to help merchant customers understand user needs and provide personalized shopping recommendations. The addition of Huiboxing, the industry’s first full-chain digital human livestream platform powered by AI, allows for the creation of 24/7 digital human streamers. This has helped e-tail customers boost sales performance with lower costs. Baidu Select has seen a 227% GMV increase for the Jan-May period year-on-year, with user transactions and active merchants rising by 283% and 242% respectively.

To help developers and individuals create agent effortlessly, Baidu’s AgentBuilder offers zero code and low code modes for agent development and deployment. It provides a full-chain solution from AI development to distribution and monetization. It supports natural language interaction and allows the creation of up to 50 agents on one account. Developers can also integrate customized plugins to realize specific functions, further simplifying the development process.

Today, AgentBuilder has served over 160,000 developers and users and more than 50,000 enterprises, covering over 100 application scenarios. The platform houses a diverse range of agents, from small-scale agents developed by individuals like copywriters, and corporate trainers, to bigger-scale agents developed by enterprises and organizations such as OPPO and the Singapore Tourism Board.

In developing the agent ecosystem, Baidu holds two key advantages, He explained at the event. The first is the company’s technological advantage in AI. Underpinning Baidu’s agents is the powerful ERNIE foundation model, China’s most advanced and widely applied foundation model, with industry-leading performance in understanding, generation, reasoning, and memory capabilities. The second advantage lies in Baidu’s massive user traffic. Baidu App has a monthly active user base of 676 million and is used by 9.7 million creators, making it a vibrant and vast ecosystem supported by the mutual interaction and growth of both creators and users.

“This is an era where everyone has a chance to rise – everyone can participate and create,” He said. Noting that agent offers a strong new impetus for inclusivity in AI, he encouraged every individual to embrace agents to fully unleash their creative potential.

About Baidu                                             

Founded in 2000, Baidu’s mission is to make the complicated world simpler through technology. Baidu is a leading AI company with a strong Internet foundation. Baidu is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “BIDU”, and on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock code “9888”. Currently, one ADS represents eight Class A ordinary shares.

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intlcomm@baidu.com

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SOURCE Baidu, Inc.

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Earth’s pulse monitored: a review highlights remote sensing time series progress

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As urbanization accelerates and environmental dynamics shift, the need for accurate and timely terrestrial monitoring has never been more urgent. A review has introduced a novel approach to remote sensing time series analysis, integrating multi-source data to enable near real-time monitoring. This innovative methodology promises to transform environmental conservation and urban planning by providing unprecedented insights into terrestrial changes and offering a more precise understanding of environmental dynamics.

GUANGZHOU, China, Dec. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — An international team of researchers from South China Normal University, the University of Connecticut, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences has made a significant breakthrough in remote sensing. Their review, published (DOI: 10.34133/remotesensing.0285) in the Journal of Remote Sensing on December 11, 2024, addresses key challenges in remote sensing, such as incomplete data and noise interference. The team’s new time series analysis technique leverages advanced data reconstruction and fusion methods, significantly enhancing the precision and efficiency of remote sensing for monitoring environmental changes.

The research team has developed an advanced time series analysis technique that combines deep learning algorithms with traditional remote sensing methods to integrate data from various remote sensing sources. This innovative approach allows for the extraction of subtle patterns from large, complex datasets, which is crucial for monitoring critical environmental parameters such as land use and vegetation health. Unlike conventional techniques that struggle with incomplete or noisy data, this new methodology offers enhanced accuracy and more reliable insights into terrestrial dynamics, paving the way for more effective environmental monitoring.

Central to the study’s success is the integration of Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks and Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) to address the challenges posed by missing or noisy data. The LSTM networks capture temporal trends over time, while the GANs generate synthetic data that mimics real-world observations to fill gaps and correct for atmospheric distortions. This dual approach has resulted in a cleaner, more accurate time series dataset, which was validated against independent ground truth measurements. The researchers demonstrated significant improvements in key vegetation indices, such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), setting a new benchmark in the field of remote sensing.

Experts in the field have lauded the study’s potential to revolutionize remote sensing applications. They see the method as a transformative tool for enhancing high-resolution monitoring and extending its coverage, particularly in agricultural surveillance, urban planning, and environmental management. “This method represents a crucial advancement in our ability to monitor environmental changes,” says Professor Fu. “As it evolves, it could play a key role in addressing climate change and other global challenges.”

The methodology’s future applications are vast, especially in global environmental monitoring and supporting sustainable development goals. By integrating multi-temporal data from Landsat and Sentinel-2 satellites, the team has created a framework for accurate and continuous terrestrial analysis. As computational power advances and algorithms improve, this technology is expected to become a vital tool for natural resource management, disaster response, and climate change mitigation. In the years to come, it could provide critical data to help policymakers address pressing environmental issues on a global scale.

References

DOI

10.34133/remotesensing.0285

Oiginal Source URL

https://doi.org/10.34133/remotesensing.0285

Funding information

This work was supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (grant numbers 42425001 and 42071399).

About Journal of Remote Sensing

The Journal of Remote Sensing, an online-only Open Access journal published in association with AIR-CAS, promotes the theory, science, and technology of remote sensing, as well as interdisciplinary research within earth and information science.

Media Contact

George Hua, Chuanlink Innovations, 1 8656606278, TranSpread1@gmail.com, http://chuanlink-innovations.com/

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ZINZINO AB (PUBL.): ENTERS INTO AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE DIP FINANCING TO ZURVITA INITIATING CHAPTER 11 PROCESS

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GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Dec. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Zinzino has in a press release dated 20240617 announced that a letter of intent to acquire 100% of the shares in the North American direct selling company Zurvita Inc. “Zurvita or the Company” was signed. Since then, Zinzino has negotiated with the owners of Zurvita Inc. and instead concluded that the purchase of Zurvita’s assets in a Chapter 11 proceeding for the Company is in Zinzino’s best interest.

Zinzino is providing a debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing to Zurvita, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings on the 20th December 2024. By entering as a financier in Zurvita’s Chapter 11 with loans totaling USD 4.5 million, Zinzino simultaneously makes an offer to acquire the company’s assets via a so-called stalking horse bid. If the bid is accepted, the DIP loan will be converted into part of a debt-settled purchase price, which will be determined after Zurvita has completed the sale process that is subject to higher and better offers in accordance with the applicable terms of Chapter 11. Other bidders have the right to submit bids for Zurvita during the process and if another bid is accepted, Zinzino’s loan will be repaid and certain of its costs associated with the process will be reimbursed. 

Zurvita is a direct selling health company with operations in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The brand portfolio offers a range of innovative health and wellness products. The business has total annual sales of approximately USD 30 million with good gross margins. A potential transaction with Zinzino is expected to add growth through the synergies arising from the joint networks, combined with Zinzino’s test-based product concept. The profitability of the Company will thus be able to develop well by utilizing Zinzino’s existing technical platform and organization.

A visionary mindset, tech first perspective, test-based nutrition at the cellular level and a strong position to capitalize on current trends will form the basis of the new partnership. Following the acquisitions of VMA Life in 2020, Enhanzz in 2022, the strategic partnership with ACN and the recently completed asset acquisition of Xelliss, Zinzino has been looking for further strong investments to maintain its sustainable, profitable growth, strengthen its distribution power, expand into new markets and leverage the product portfolio in new consumer areas.

– “Individualized advice and tailored solutions are the future, and not just in health and wellness,” says Dag Bergheim Pettersen, CEO of Zinzino. “Together, we have years of combined industry experience and everything it takes to drive the modern, personalized shopping experience through direct sales”. Jay Shafer, CEO and co-founder of Zurvita, states “After considering multiple options for the company and under the guidance of our attorneys and third-party advisors, we feel this presents the best opportunity to continue Zurvita’s mission, deliver the highest quality products, and provide continuity for our staff and consultants. We are excited to see what the future holds for Zurvita.” 

For more information:
Dag Bergheim Pettersen CEO Zinzino +47 (0) 932 25 700, www.zinzino.com

Pictures for publication free of charge:
marketing@zinzino.com

Certified Adviser:
Carnegie Investment Bank AB (publ.)

Zinzino AB (publ.) is obliged to publish this information in compliance with current EU regulations governing market abuse. The information was provided by the above contact person for publication at 20.00 on the 21st of December 2024.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/zinzino/r/zinzino-ab–publ–enters-into-agreement-to-provide-dip-financing-to-zurvita-initiating-chapter-11-pr,c4086040

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Meet With Culture: Exquisite Craftsmanship of Traditional Chinese Architecture

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BEIJING, Dec. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Temple of Agriculture in Beijing played a significant role during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. Over nearly 600 years, 25 emperors personally visited or sent ministers to perform spring farming ceremonies and offer sacrifices to Shennong, the god of agriculture.

 

Built in 1420 during the Yongle reign, the temple’s predecessor was the Temple of Mountains and Rivers in Nanjing. When Emperor Zhu Di moved the Ming capital to Beijing, he constructed a larger temple inspired by the Nanjing temple, which gradually evolved into the Temple of Agriculture.

The Taisui Hall, the largest building complex in the temple, now serves as a major exhibition hall of the Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum, showcasing models of classical Chinese buildings and demonstrating the solemnity of royal architecture.

Ancient Chinese architecture is predominantly wooden-structured, chosen for its availability, versatility, and earthquake resistance. Artisans developed sophisticated techniques in material selection and construction. The wooden framework consists of columns, beams, girders, and purlins, with innovative structural forms like lifting-beam and piercing-bracket structures.

A unique architectural element is the dougong (bracket sets), which supports weight and connects beam frames with column walls. Mortise-tenon joints were invented to create elastic frameworks by connecting different components.

While discussing the Temple of Agriculture, it’s worth noting another remarkable example of architectural hierarchy which could be found in the Temple of Heaven. The hierarchy of architectural designs reflected social stratification, with eave structures like the triple-layered eaves of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest representing the highest-level architectural design.

Over centuries, the Temple of Agriculture has transformed from an imperial garden to a public park and a museum for historical architecture, now standing as a significant cultural landmark that symbolizes China’s agricultural civilization and architectural heritage along Beijing’s Central Axis.

Quickly join Alexandre to study and explore the traditional Chinese architecture.
https://youtu.be/YpA03WiZ9Wc

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SOURCE China International Communications Group

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