"Chinese companies are starting to dream," said early investor in Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU) and managing partner at GGV Capital Jixun Foo. Foo's proclamation was made in an in-depth article by MIT Technology Review, which examined the Chinese search giant's new effort to change the world with artificial intelligence. The company's new AI lab does, indeed, accompany some lofty aspirations -- ones big enough to hopefully help Baidu become a global Internet powerhouse and to compete with the likes of Google in increasingly important emerging markets where the default search engine hasn't yet taken the throne.

But what are the implications for investors? Fortunately, Baidu's growing infatuation with AI looks like it could give birth to winning strategies that could build sustainable value over the long haul.

Even Baidu's home page mirrors Google's. Image source: Baidu.com.

Finding an identity Often referred to as the "Google of China," Baidu is known for unashamedly copying Google's winning tactics in China where it is the dominant search engine and where Google is banned. But as the company looks to emerging international markets, where Internet users are only up and coming, Baidu needs to begin finding its own identity. Baidu's AI push seems to fit the bill.

Baidu first announced its bigger plans for AI in May when it announced the hire of Google's Andrew Ng, who founded the rival search giant's Deep Learning team. Widely regarded as a leading figure in AI, Ng alone brings identity to Baidu. More importantly, his knowledge brings with him an opportunity for Baidu to play a leading role in AI.

Baidu's Silicon Valley AI lab has one "key quest," according to MIT Technology Review's Robert Hof: To create "software that can, in a real sense, learn on its own." In other words, Baidu wants to be the leader in deep learning. Deep learning, a new form of AI that attempts to build algorithms that reflect high-level human learning, is likely to play key roles in the future for companies with infinitely growing sums of data at their fingertips.

But Ng won't stop at deep learning. Heading up all Baidu research, Ng aims to help Baidu stand out in many aspects.

"It's Ng's job to develop cutting-edge technologies that will leave no doubt who is ahead," said Hof.

Ng's contributions over the coming years will likely be instrumental to Baidu's future. As Baidu expands internationally into markets where the company will go head-to-head with the likes of Google and Microsoft in vying for online search traffic, Ng could be the difference between new technologies that set Baidu ahead of competition. Further, the technologies Ng will work on are only those that could "significantly influence" the lives of at least 100 million people, he told MIT Technology Review -- ones that give a company a "lasting base to build on."

A growing number of affordable smartphones and the proliferation wireless Internet is helping bring new active Internet users to the global market. Baidu thinks its experience with new Internet users gives the company an advantage in emerging markets. Image source: Baidu.

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Baidu, Inc. Wants to Become a Leader in Artificial Intelligence