Chinese artificial intelligence start-up SenseTime Group is planning an initial public offering (IPO) and aims to open a research and development (R&D) centre in the United States as early as next year, its founder told Reuters in an interview.

The Hong Kong and Beijing-based deep learning company founded by Tang Xiaoou, a professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, is a leader among Chinese A.I. start-ups that are enjoying fast growth thanks to demand from the government and private sector for their facial recognition technology.