By: Edward Wells

As a seasoned expert in intelligent technology, Beibei Zhang’s career is filled with remarkable achievements and breakthroughs. She has held key positions in several renowned tech companies and has made significant research contributions in artificial intelligence, intelligent mobility, and intelligent advertising. Today, we have the privilege of interviewing Ms. Beibei Zhang to hear about her career journey and insights into the future of technology development.

Interviewer: Ms. Zhang, can you briefly introduce your career development?

Beibei Zhang: Of course. I graduated from Xi’an Jiaotong University with a Bachelor’s in Computer Science and Technology and a Master’s in Software Engineering. After graduation, I worked as an R&D engineer and senior engineer at IBM, Sina Weibo, and Didi Chuxing. In 2017, I joined Freewheel Beijing Co., Ltd.; in 2022, I was transferred to an Intelligent Advertisement company in New York as a Lead engineer. Through these experiences, I have accumulated extensive technical research and project management experience.

Interviewer: What prompted you to choose a career in the field of intelligent technology?

Beibei Zhang: I have been passionate about computers and technology since childhood. My university studies ignited a strong desire to explore artificial intelligence. After graduation, I chose IBM as my first job, which exposed me to cutting-edge industry technologies. Subsequently, my work experiences at Didi Chuxing and Freewheel deepened my interest in intelligent mobility and intelligent advertising. At Didi Chuxing, I saw the immense potential and challenges in intelligent mobility, such as order-matching algorithms and route optimization, which motivated me to delve into research and solve practical problems.

Interviewer: What do you consider your greatest achievement in your career?

Beibei Zhang: During my time at Didi Chuxing, I participated in the development of several key technologies, including driver-passenger order matching algorithms, safety solutions and Intelligent dynamic route optimization. These technologies are still used today, providing safer and more efficient travel experiences for over 580 million customers daily on Didi global platform. In addition, I am an innovative person in my work. During my time at Didi Chuxing, I acquired over 50 patents related to carpooling and intelligent mobility, including algorithms, route optimization, and intelligent dispatching. More than 20 patents have been granted in countries like the United States, Europe, Japan, and Australia.  At Freewheel, my focus was on the field of intelligent advertising. I handle over 40TB of data daily, performing tasks such as labeling, cleaning, and transformation. By leveraging machine learning, I analyze the characteristics of each user to achieve intelligent ad placement and smart budget management for advertisers, helping over 32 million households in the U.S. and 23.4 million customers in Europe to see optimized advertisements. Additionally, I have conducted extensive research in artificial intelligence, particularly in natural language processing (NLP), where I published several influential papers. Through this research, I helped advertisers achieve more precise ad placements, significantly enhancing ad returns and user experience.

Interviewer: What is your recent research focus?

Beibei Zhang: My research mainly focuses on natural language processing technology in the era of big data and its applications in intelligent advertising and healthcare. I believe that with the continuous advancement of AI technology, we will see more innovations and breakthroughs in these fields. Specifically, I am researching how to improve the precision and effectiveness of ad placements through semantic analysis technology and exploring the potential of AI technology in mental health applications, such as using large language models to assess user trust and effectiveness in mental health applications.

Interviewer: How do you view AI’s future development trends?

Beibei Zhang: AI technology will continue profoundly impacting our lives and work. AI will provide more precise and efficient solutions, especially in the fields of intelligent advertising, intelligent mobility, and healthcare. With the development of large models and deep learning technologies, AI’s capabilities in natural language processing, image recognition, and other areas will improve, bringing more application scenarios. Moreover, integrating AI with other technologies, such as blockchain and the Internet of Things, will create more emerging application scenarios, propelling the entire industry forward.

Interviewer: What are your hobbies in daily life?

Beibei Zhang: I enjoy reading and traveling, which relaxes me and inspires me. I like to explore books from various fields, from technology to humanities, history to novels. These reading experiences have enriched my knowledge and thinking patterns. Traveling allows me to experience different cultures and meet different people, greatly aiding my research work, especially in understanding user needs and market trends.

Moreover, I am passionate about staying up-to-date with the latest technological advancements. I regularly attend industry conferences and summits like the Snowflake AI Summit, AWS, and the NVIDIA GTC. These events are incredibly inspiring, as they provide a platform to learn about cutting-edge innovations, network with industry leaders, and discuss emerging AI and data science trends.

Interviewer: What are your plans and goals for the future?

Beibei Zhang: In the future, I hope to continue deepening my work in AI and machine learning, especially in applying large model technologies in intelligent advertising, intelligent mobility, and healthcare. I plan to further optimize existing technical solutions, enhancing the intelligence and humanization of AI systems. I also hope to contribute to the industry’s development through research, creating more value for society. Specifically, I aim to launch more AI products and services with practical applications in the coming years, providing users with more convenient and efficient experiences.

Ms. Beibei Zhang has made her mark in intelligent technology with her wisdom and effort. Her achievements are a personal honor and provide new perspectives and momentum for the development of the entire industry. In the future, she will continue her journey in AI and machine learning, bringing more innovations and breakthroughs.

Published by: Holy Minoza