Baidu, China's leading tech giant, just hit a major milestone—its robotaxi service has now completed over 11 million rides. At the same time, the company surprised investors by outperforming profit expectations in Q1, thanks in part to its growing AI ventures. It’s a double win that shows their bet on autonomous driving and AI is paying off.

Editor’s Note: Baidu’s progress in robotaxis isn’t just about cool tech—it’s proof that self-driving services are scaling up in real-world conditions. Combine that with stronger-than-expected earnings, and it signals that Baidu’s AI-driven strategy might be the right play in a competitive market. For anyone watching the race toward autonomous transportation, this is a big checkpoint.