Yitu Technology
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Artificial intelligence, Facial recognition technology |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Founder | Leo Zhu, Lin Chenxi |
| Headquarters | Shanghai , China |
Key people | Leo Zhu (CEO), Zhang Xiaoping (COO) |
| Products | Dragonfly Eye (facial recognition system) |
Yitu Technology, commonly branded as YITU, is an AI enterprise headquartered in Shanghai, focusing on facial recognition technologies. Established in 2012 by Leo Zhu and Lin Chenxi, the company’s principal product, Dragonfly Eye, is extensively utilized by public security agencies throughout China for the identification of both people and vehicles.
Leo Zhu, serving as CEO, earned his doctorate in statistics from UCLA and conducted postdoctoral studies at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. Yitu receives financial backing from prominent investors such as the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Sequoia Capital, and Hillhouse Capital. Additionally, Zhang Xiaoping, Yitu’s Chief Operating Officer, holds the position of Chief Information Officer at G42.
Beyond the domestic market, Yitu has extended its AI surveillance solutions internationally, including providing technology to law enforcement in Malaysia.
History
Yitu secured first place in a 2017 facial recognition algorithm competition organized by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The following year, Yitu collaborated with Huawei to promote smart city initiatives and introduced a panoramic facial recognition system. In 2018, the company also expanded overseas by establishing a Singapore branch and winning a contract with the Royal Malaysia Police for facial recognition software deployment. By 2019, the Chinese government recognized Yitu as one of its "national champions" within the artificial intelligence sector. In 2021, amidst regulatory challenges, Yitu retracted its initial public offering application on the Shanghai Stock Exchange STAR Market and revealed intentions to pursue listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
US sanctions
In October 2019, Yitu was placed on the United States Department of Commerce’s Entity List due to alleged participation in human rights violations in Xinjiang. Later, in December 2021, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated Yitu as part of its "Chinese military-industrial complex companies" blacklist. By January 2024, the U.S. Department of Defense identified Yitu among "Chinese Military Companies Operating in the United States."