Intel backs 2 Chinese startups

Two Chinese startups are among 14 companies around the world to benefit from Intel Corp's latest round of support — worth a total US$117 million globally.

The 14 companies “are shifting the way we think about artificial intelligence, communications, manufacturing and health care,” which contribute to a smarter and more connected society, said Intel Capital.

The two Chinese firms are Cloudpick Ltd, a Shanghai-based smart retail technology provider, and Zhuhai EEasy Technology, a Zhuhai-based AI system-on-chip designer.

With computer vision, deep learning, sensor fusion and edge computing technologies, Cloudpick enables highly digitized, intelligent, cashier-free stores to offer shoppers grab-and-go. EEasy offers AI acceleration, image and graphic processing, video encoding and decoding, which are used in the video, automotive and smart device sectors.

Each year, Intel Capital puts US$300 million to US$500 million into innovative companies across a wide range of emerging technologies.