China’s economy will be driven by AI in the next two to five decades, said Robin Li, founder and CEO of China's top search engine Baidu.

(CPPCC member Robin Li answers questions raised by media reporters in the Great Hall of the People.)

On the morning of March 15, the closing session of the 13th session of the CPPCC National Committee was held in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Robin Li was interviewed by media reporters along the "CPPCC members' passage" right before the meeting started.

Asked about when people will be able to ride a driverless vehicle, Li was confident about the future, saying that in three to five years’ time, driverless vehicles will ultimately replace drivers on a completely open road.

While China’s Minister of Industry and Information Technology said it may take 8-10 years to see the mass production of unmanned vehicles, Li believed it will happen sooner. According to the CEO, a small-scale production minibus with no steering wheel and driver's seat will be launched within the year. In addition, starting from 2019, Baidu will cooperate with mainstream carmakers to produce highly automated family cars. He added, “As long as you are on the expressway, there is no need for you to control the car. You can enjoy a hotpot or sing as you like until the car reminds you to take charge.”

During the passage interview, Li also told reporters that comparable to industrial revolutions, artificial intelligence (AI) can bring different experiences in many fields. He said, “In the next two to five decades, AI will become the driving force for China’s economy and we’re looking forward to playing a positive role in it.”