The “National Open Innovation Platforms for Next Generation Artificial Intelligence” that are being developed by Chinese tech companies Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent, IFLYTEK and SenseTime under a program led by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China were an eye-catcher at the event.

The platforms are designed to promote development and innovation of open-source technologies and products in the fields of automatic driving, AI-based urban management, smart medical imaging, smart voice control and intelligent vision.

Among the exhibits is a seven-seat self-driving bus without driver’s seat, steering wheel or any pedals except for a control panel. It is learnt that the product has been put into mass production and used in a host of industrial parks across the country.

A car at IFLYTEK’s booth was an eye-catcher, too. It boasts a smart audio system that can identify and follow the voice commands of people sitting in different seats, such as opening the nearest window for a person in a back seat.