(Yicai Global) Oct. 20 -- Chinese internet and search giant Baidu Inc. [NASDAQ:BIDU] has rolled out an assistance program named Liaoyuan for artificial intelligence developers in the country's southern tech hub of Shenzhen, in Guangdong province, and is now receiving applications for the first phase of its AI accelerator.

Baidu unveiled the Baidu AI Ecosystem Partner Program on Oct. 19. The project aims to solicit over 500 partners, train 5,000 Ai talents and include over 60 startups in its AI accelerator next year and then invest in outstanding performers. The first phase of the program will receive applications until Nov. 17 this year, state-run China News Service reported.

The internet behemoth has been developing a range of in-depth learning-based abilities, including voice and facial recognition, natural language processing, knowledge mapping and data intelligence, to cover all technical areas of AI. Yu Youping, general manager of the firm's technological ecology department, predicts that Baidu will be one of the most comprehensive platforms involved in opening up AI to China and the rest of the world.

Baidu also held its first training activity dubbed Creating With AI. It plans to roll out the training in Shenzhen, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Beijing, with several of its senior AI engineers teaching local developers how to use Baidu's artificial intelligence technologies to develop their own apps.

The second training event will be held in Chengdu on Oct. 26, during which Baidu's top engineers will explain its robot vision, map recognition and app interaction technologies. Developers can register for the event through Baidu's AI website.