BEIJING – Google will open in the Chinese capital its first Artificial Intelligence (AI) center in Asia, similar to the ones in New York, Toronto, London and Zurich to help find ways of making AI work better for everyone.

The center will be led by Jia Li, head of research and development at Google Cloud AI together with Fei-Fei Li, Chief Scientist of Google Cloud AI, who explained Wednesday in a press release that they have hired several experts and researchers and will continue expanding their team in the next few months.

In addition to publishing reports carrying results of its research, the new Center will sponsor AI lectures and workshops and work closely with the vibrant Chinese AI research community, said Fei-Fei.

“We see our enterprise partners using AI to transform their businesses in fascinating ways at an astounding pace. As technology starts to shape human life in more profound ways, we will need to work together to ensure that the AI of tomorrow benefits all of us,” she said.

The scientist, who has a 12-year career as a teacher and joined the company a year ago, explained that the new Google Center in Beijing is a small contribution to this goal and will work with the “brightest AI researchers in China to help find solutions to the world’s problems.”

“I believe AI and its benefits have no borders. Whether a breakthrough occurs in Silicon Valley, Beijing or anywhere else, it has the potential to make everyone’s life better for the entire world,” said Fei-Fei adding that Google wants to recruit the best talent in this sector wherever it is.

Researchers working in the center will be supported by the Google China team of engineers and the announcement of the new opening comes while most of the company’s services are still blocked in this country due to censorship.