China's technology giant Tencent has announced the company's Artificial Intelligence Lab set up in Seattle. The new lab will have a former chief researcher from Microsoft as its deputy director.

Yu Dong will be mostly in charge of the day-to-day operations of the lab.

Before joining Tencent, Yu Dong worked as chief researcher in the Speech and Dialog Group at Microsoft's main Research Lab. He is also a part-time professor at a number of Chinese universities.

In commenting on his hiring, Yu Dong says Chinese technology companies will need to show patience in allowing for long-term research.

Zhang Tong, former chief director of Baidu's main research lab, was appointed as chief director of Tencent's AI Lab in Seattle in March.

Tencent shares hit 245 Hong Kong dollars in Tuesday trading at one point, giving the company an overall market cap of some 300 billion U.S. dollars.

Email: gaohan@nbd.com.cn