Baidu’s Metaverse Chief Resigns as AI Overtakes the Tech Industry
In Brief
Baidu’s metaverse chief has stepped down as the company shifts its attention towards AI technologies.
The departure comes amidst a surge in the popularity of AI-generated content models.
Baidu’s Vice President Ma Jie, who previously led the metaverse operations, including the XiRang platform, has resigned for undisclosed reasons.
Xirang, China’s metaverse platform launched by internet giant Baidu just last year, finds itself at a crossroads as the head of the company departs amidst a shifting focus toward AI-generated content models. Baidu’s Vice President Ma Jie, who played an important role in leading the metaverse operations and VR business, has recently resigned under undisclosed circumstances.
According to SCMP, Ma Jie, who had been with Baidu since 2015, was reportedly untraceable in the company’s internal computer system since Friday. Baidu has reportedly deprioritized its metaverse business due to the challenges of generating immediate profits in this space. Chinese media outlet The Paper quoted Ma on Friday, stating that he had already departed from the company.
Baidu’s decision to prioritize AI comes as a surprising shift in strategy, considering it was only 18 months ago that the company introduced its XiRang app, also known as “Land of Hope.”
During its launch, Baidu organized virtual events, including a fashion show in collaboration with Dior and a virtual job fair in partnership with the Suzhou city government in Jiangsu province, aiming to attract users to the metaverse concept.
XiRang aspired to establish itself as a platform encompassing entertainment, social interaction, and brand promotion, much like the renowned global metaverse gaming platform Roblox.
In an announcement, Baidu declared the successful execution of over 120 metaverse activities and spaces through its platform “XiRang” last year. These endeavors spanned across more than 20 domains, including culture, tourism, art, automobiles, and consumer goods.
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About The Author
Agne is a journalist who covers the latest trends and developments in the metaverse, AI, and Web3 industries for the Metaverse Post. Her passion for storytelling has led her to conduct numerous interviews with experts in these fields, always seeking to uncover exciting and engaging stories. Agne holds a Bachelor’s degree in literature and has an extensive background in writing about a wide range of topics including travel, art, and culture. She has also volunteered as an editor for the animal rights organization, where she helped raise awareness about animal welfare issues. Contact her on agnec@mpost.io.
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Agne is a journalist who covers the latest trends and developments in the metaverse, AI, and Web3 industries for the Metaverse Post. Her passion for storytelling has led her to conduct numerous interviews with experts in these fields, always seeking to uncover exciting and engaging stories. Agne holds a Bachelor’s degree in literature and has an extensive background in writing about a wide range of topics including travel, art, and culture. She has also volunteered as an editor for the animal rights organization, where she helped raise awareness about animal welfare issues. Contact her on agnec@mpost.io.
