Key facts
- Baidu said the simulator trains Apollo robotaxis on rare hazards such as a cyclist running a red light.
- Baidu said the system also prepares the robotaxis for animals entering traffic from behind a corner.
- Baidu said it developed the simulator as it seeks an edge in the self-driving taxi market.
Baidu has developed a new AI-driven simulator to prepare its Apollo robotaxis for rare but high-stakes road hazards, the Chinese tech company said in a report published November 4, 2026. Baidu said the system is designed to train the self-driving taxis on scenarios that can test even experienced human drivers, such as a cyclist running a red light or an animal entering traffic from behind a corner.
Baidu said it built the simulator as it seeks an edge in the fast-growing self-driving taxi market. The report did not give figures for the simulator's cost, the size of the Apollo fleet or the number of scenarios it covers.