(Yicai Global) Jan. 10 -- Chinese internet giant Baidu Inc. has unveiled a free updated version of its automatic driving system at the CES global technology event in Las Vegas.

Apollo 2.0 is an open-source platform, the Beijing-based company said at a press briefing yesterday, adding that business customers may need paid products based on different business models.

"Some enterprises are wary of accepting something free of charge," said Baidu Vice-President Wu Xuebin. "They are not used to this, and so they are willing to pay development fees and attach some clauses in other aspects."

Baidu aims to develop a global network of Apollo labs in Silicon Valley, Seattle, Singapore, and Beijing, with fields of research to include perception and control, Internet of Vehicles, policies and laws and intelligent traffic systems, online media outlet The Paper cited Baidu President Zhang Yaqin as saying. It will establish a USD200 million fund to set up smart driving labs in Singapore as part of plans to cultivate talent from around the world and boost industrial research, he said.

"I can tell you that this cooperation with Singapore is led by the Singaporean government," said Baidu Vice-President Li Zhenyu. "They hope that our labs can attract many talents to go to work in Singapore."

"Baidu had an early start in AI and has pooled lots of talents. Many startups look to bring in talents from the company," he added. "Historically, Google faced similar problems as well. From another perspective, the fact that Baidu exports many talents proves that our talent cultivation mechanism is very good."

CES, which this year runs from Jan. 9 to 12, "is the world's gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies," according to its website. "It has served as the proving ground for innovators and breakthrough technologies for 50 years -- the global stage where next-generation innovations are introduced to the marketplace."