iQIYI to Launch 200-Plus Online Series in 2018

China’s iQIYI, an online video and entertainment service provider, has revealed its plans to release more than 200 shows next year, and is also partnering with Baidu on more AI apps.

Among the titles to be produced and streamed in 2018 include the return of the hit adventure dramas Tientsin Mystic and The Lost Tomb, as well as the popular talent show The Rap of China. Also in the works are Hot Blood Dance Crew and Clash Bots.

Meanwhile, iQIYI is teaming up with Baidu to explore more possibilities of incorporating the Chinese search engine’s AI technology into its capacity in entertainment content production. This will allow iQIYI to “become a great company driven by technology innovation,” Gong Yu, founder and CEO of iQIYI, said during a press conference in Shanghai earlier this week. “iQIYI has not only had the people who understand the entertainment industry better than others, but also ‘machines’ that have the know-how about entertainment,” he continued. “So what drives iQIYI ahead is not only our strength in content production, but also our technology innovation capability.”