Language the next frontier of artificial intelligence

This year, the company remains focused on language-centered AI technologies, such as translation, voice and computer vision.

In the company’s first fiscal year following its listing on the NYSE, which raised US$585 million, Sogou reported a 26-percent increase in year-on-year profit to US$94.4 million for the first quarter of this year, which was above market expectations.

Sogou has forecast revenues of between US$296 million and US$305 million for the second quarter.

Among the services provided by Sogou, search business generates more than 80 percent of the revenue, followed by sales of smart hardware products and internet value-added services.

“Based on Sogou’s input method and its search engine, we’re expanding our capacity in natural interaction and knowledge computing,” said Wang.

In March this year, Sogou came out with the portable travel translator - an AI-powered translator that's capable of 24 languages offline translation, image translation recognition and filtering out and suppressing background noise. Exclusively available on JD.com, the units were sold out in the first round of orders with total sales exceeding 10 million yuan.

The company followed it up two months later with the launch of the Smart Recording Translator supporting recording, transcription, translation and interpretation of both real-time and recorded conversations.

“Focusing on language, we will launch four AI-powered devices this year. And, we plan to expand our unique content in key verticals like healthcare and laws to make the machines more intelligent,” Wang said.

Contact the writer at pamelalin@chinadailyhk.com