China

Robotaxi Service Interruption Leaves Passengers Stuck on China's Roadways

Robotaxi Service Interruption Leaves Passengers Stuck on China’s Roadways

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An unidentified technical issue led to several robotaxis operated by the Chinese technology company Baidu to become immobilized in traffic on Tuesday, leaving some passengers stranded for more than an hour. In Wuhan, where Baidu has rolled out many Apollo Go autonomous taxis, users on Chinese social media reported observing the vehicles malfunctioning and halting. Images and videos capture the stationary Baidu cars on congested roadways, frequently in the fast lane.

A university student in Wuhan mentioned being trapped with friends in a Baidu robotaxi for roughly 90 minutes. The vehicle malfunctioned and stopped several times before halting at an intersection. The screen in the car instructed passengers to stay seated and wait for a company representative, but after 30 minutes, they were unable to connect with customer support. After another hour of waiting, the passengers chose to exit the vehicle on their own.

Other riders also voiced their frustrations on social media regarding the inability to reach customer support. One user shared that she attempted all available help options on the app, but the phone line was inoperative, and the SOS button was not an option. She ultimately forced the door open and stepped out as traffic came to a standstill behind her robotaxi.

Baidu has yet to provide a statement. Police in Wuhan indicated that the problem might be linked to a system failure, though the situation is currently being investigated. No injuries have been reported, and it is said that passengers managed to leave the vehicles. The total number of affected robotaxis remains uncertain.

A dash cam recording depicts a vehicle going around 16 Apollo Go units that were parked on the road for over 90 minutes, with the driver narrowly avoiding them. In a separate event, a man alleged that he crashed into a halted Baidu vehicle after the car ahead of him swerved to dodge it. His orange SUV was documented with significant damage after being towed away.

AI Research Is Becoming More and More Interwoven With Geopolitics

AI Research Is Becoming More and More Interwoven With Geopolitics

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The prominent AI research event, NeurIPS, recently encountered a controversy intertwining geopolitics with worldwide scientific cooperation. The conference initially set forth but quickly revoked new limitations on international participation after Chinese AI researchers indicated a possible boycott. Paul Triolo from DGA-Albright Stonebridge emphasized the necessity of drawing in Chinese researchers to serve US interests, amidst American demands to sever AI collaborations. These strains pose a risk of discouraging Chinese researchers from interacting with US academic institutions and technology firms. NeurIPS first delineated restrictions in its handbook, associating with US-sanctioned organizations, impacting researchers at companies such as Tencent and Huawei. The listing also encompassed Russian, Iranian, and other foreign entities. In light of the outcry, NeurIPS narrowed the restrictions to a list aimed at terrorist and criminal groups. The organizers acknowledged a mistake, attributing it to a lapse in communication with their legal team. The revised rule elicited a prompt reaction, especially from China, a key hub for AI expertise. Chinese academic organizations condemned the action, dissuading participation and advocating for national conferences. The China Association of Science and Technology (CAST), a notable body, revealed it would shift funding from NeurIPS attendance to endorse other conferences valuing Chinese scholars, also indicating that NeurIPS 2026 publications would not be counted towards research funding assessments, unless any policy change occurs.