AI Pioneer · Chairman & CEO of Sinovation Ventures · Founder of 01.AI
Dr. Kai-Fu Lee is an AI pioneer, technology investor, entrepreneur and author with more than three decades of experience spanning artificial intelligence research, technology leadership, venture capital and entrepreneurship across the United States and China.
He is the Chairman and CEO of Sinovation Ventures and President of the Sinovation Ventures Artificial Intelligence Institute, where he focuses on investing in and developing technology companies and advancing the practical adoption of AI.
Lee is also the founder of 01.AI, an artificial intelligence company focused on enterprise AI and AI applications. His current work combines AI development, venture investing and advising organizations on how to navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
Before founding Sinovation Ventures in 2009, Lee held senior leadership positions at Apple, Microsoft and SGI and served as President of Google China. At Microsoft, he founded Microsoft Research China, which later became Microsoft Research Asia and played an important role in developing AI research talent in the region.
Lee has been involved in artificial intelligence since its early development. At Carnegie Mellon University, he conducted pioneering research in speech recognition and built a computer program that defeated the world champion at the game of Othello in 1988. His career subsequently spanned machine learning, speech recognition, natural language processing, technology management and AI entrepreneurship.
He is the author of the bestselling book AI Superpowers: China, Silicon Valley, and the New World Order, which examines the development of AI and the changing global technology landscape. His work frequently explores the intersection of artificial intelligence, business, geopolitics, entrepreneurship and the future of work.
Today, Lee advises leaders and organizations on AI adoption, business transformation and the opportunities created by rapidly advancing artificial intelligence. His perspective combines technical expertise with decades of experience building technology companies, investing in AI and operating at the intersection of the world's major technology ecosystems.