The Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence (BAAI) is a special place in Beijing, China, that works on making artificial intelligence (AI) better. AI is like teaching computers to think and learn, a bit like humans. BAAI started in 2018 and is a non-profit group, meaning it focuses on helping people through research, not making money.
It’s located in a cool tech area called Wudaokou, near top universities, which helps it work with smart people to create new AI ideas.
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How Did BAAI Start?
BAAI was created in November 2018 by the Chinese government to keep up with the fast-growing world of AI. Since then, it has grown a lot! By 2022, it was already working on big projects and hosting huge AI conferences where experts from all over the world talk about new ideas. These conferences help everyone share knowledge and make AI better.
What Does BAAI Do?
BAAI has a big mission: to make AI that’s helpful, safe, and fair for everyone. Here’s what they focus on:
- Building New AI Tech: They work on cutting-edge AI, like super-smart computer programs that can handle tons of information.
- Training People: They help teach new AI experts to keep the world moving forward.
- Sharing Ideas: BAAI works with people worldwide to share AI discoveries and make them open for everyone to use.
- Keeping AI Safe: They make rules, like the Beijing AI Principles, to ensure AI is used in a kind and fair way.
Cool Things BAAI Works On
BAAI does a lot of exciting stuff with AI. Here are some key areas:
- Big Data and Open Tools
BAAI builds powerful AI systems that can process huge amounts of information, like videos, text, and more. They made a tool called FlagAI, which helps people train AI models on different types of computers. It’s open-source, meaning anyone can use it for free!
In 2025, they also created DataCube, a platform that lets people use data for projects that help society, like improving schools or cities.
- Robots and Smart Machines
BAAI is a leader in embodied AI, which is AI that helps robots move and think. For example, in June 2025, they showed off RoboBrain 2.0, a super-smart robot brain for humanoid robots. They also made a welding robot that helps build things faster in factories.
- AI in Healthcare
BAAI is using AI to make healthcare better. They created the world’s first autonomous cardiac ultrasound robot, which can check hearts in faraway places where doctors are hard to find. They also made AI tools to help doctors find diseases faster, which can save lives!
Why Ethics Matter
BAAI doesn’t just focus on cool tech—they also care about doing the right thing. Their Beijing AI Principles say AI should be safe, fair, and helpful to everyone. They want to make sure AI doesn’t cause harm and is used responsibly.
BAAI’s Global Impact
BAAI shares its work with the world through open-source projects, like on a website called Hugging Face, where thousands of people use their tools. They also join global meetings, like one in Shanghai in July 2025, to talk about how to make AI safe and useful everywhere.
However, in 2025, BAAI faced some challenges because of international rules, like being added to the U.S. Entity List, which can make it harder to work with some countries. Still, BAAI keeps pushing forward.
Why BAAI is Awesome
Since starting in 2018, BAAI has become a leader in AI by creating new technology, helping people, and keeping ethics in mind. Whether it’s building smart robots, improving healthcare, or sharing tools with the world, BAAI is making AI exciting and helpful for everyone.