In a somber announcement, SenseTime, the pioneering AI company based in China, revealed the sudden demise of its founder, Tang Xiao’ou.
The news, shared through an online post, conveyed the deep sorrow within the organization: “It is with an extremely heavy heart that we announce to everyone the sorrowful news: Our beloved founder… Tang Xiao’ou, due to illness that could not be treated, left us forever at 23:45 on December 15, 2023.”
Tang Xiao’ou, an accomplished computer scientist, and alumnus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, passed away at the age of 56. Formerly a professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Tang ventured into the realm of artificial intelligence by establishing SenseTime in 2014.
While the online post did not disclose the specific cause of Tang’s untimely death, it undoubtedly marked a significant loss for the AI community and the company he co-founded. His contributions to the field were acknowledged not only in China but globally.
SenseTime’s journey under Tang’s leadership was not without challenges. The company found itself entangled in geopolitical tensions, notably being placed on a US trade blacklist in 2019.
The accusations stemmed from allegations that SenseTime was part of China’s “military-industrial complex” due to the deployment of its technology in mass surveillance in Xinjiang.
Despite the obstacles, SenseTime weathered the storm and successfully went public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2021, after overcoming delays prompted by new restrictions imposed by the US.
In honoring Tang’s legacy, SenseTime described him as “an outstanding representative in (China’s) AI field,” emphasizing his qualities as a knowledgeable, rigorous scholar who sought truth and was pragmatic in his approach.
The company’s statement also highlighted Tang’s enduring influence, stating, “The company mission he formulated, to ‘insist on originality and let AI lead human progress,’ will inspire all SenseTime people.”
Tang’s academic journey included earning a PhD from MIT in 1996, following an MSc at the University of Rochester in 1991.
His extensive experience in American academia laid the foundation for his later groundbreaking work in the field of artificial intelligence.
As the AI community mourns the loss of a visionary leader, questions arise about the future trajectory of SenseTime and the broader impact Tang’s absence will have on the development and application of artificial intelligence in China and beyond.
The void left by Tang Xiao’ou’s passing leaves the industry reflecting on the profound impact he had and the legacy he leaves behind in the rapidly evolving landscape of AI.
