Megvii is a Chinese technology company based in Beijing that designs image recognition and deep-learning software. The company develops artificial intelligence (AI) technology for businesses and for the public sector, with a focus on computer vision and authentication. Megvii is the largest provider of third-party authentication software in the world, and its product, Face++, is the world's largest computer vision platform. In 2019, the company was valued at US$4 billion. As of 2024, the company operates the world's largest computer vision research institute.
The company has faced U.S. investment and export restrictions due to allegations of aiding the persecution of Uyghurs in China. These sanctions have shaped its operations and international standing, leading to workforce reductions and strategic pivots.
History
Megvii was founded in Beijing, with the name standing for "mega vision." It was started by Yin Qi and two college friends. The company's core product, Face++, launched in 2012 as the first online facial recognition platform in China. In 2015, Megvii created Brain++, a deep-learning engine to help train its algorithms.
Backed by GGV Capital, Megvii raised $100 million in 2016, $460 million in 2017, and $750 million in May 2019. In 2017, Megvii marketed authentication and computational photography functions to smartphone companies and mobile application developers, then expanded into smart logistics. Megvii's AI-empowered products include personal IoT, city IoT, and supply chain IoT. In 2017 and 2018, Megvii beat Google, Facebook, and Microsoft in tests of image recognition at the International Conference on Computer Vision.
By June 2019, Megvii had 2,349 employees and was valued at over $4 billion, described as the "world's biggest provider of third-party authentication software," with 339 corporate clients in 112 cities in China. The Chinese government employs Megvii software.
In March 2020, Megvii announced that it would make its deep learning framework MegEngine open-source. As of 2024, Megvii operates the world's largest computer vision research institute. In July of that same year, the company signed a deal with the Chongqing Liangjiang New Area's local government and Geely for AI projects in Chongqing as well as developing internet-connected intelligent cars. Due to its partnership with Geely and being the second largest shareholder at Lifan Technology Group, Yin Qi, Megvii's CEO, was appointed chairman of the board at Lifan.
Face++ and Computer Vision
Face++ is Megvii's flagship product, launched in 2012 as an online facial recognition platform. It has grown into the world's largest computer vision platform, used for identity verification, access control, and surveillance applications. The platform processes billions of images and provides developers with APIs for face detection, analysis, and matching. Face++ has been integrated into various consumer and enterprise applications, including mobile payments, security systems, and smart city initiatives.
The platform's scale and accuracy have made it a benchmark in the field. Megvii's algorithms have consistently ranked among the top in international competitions, including beating Google, Facebook, and Microsoft in image recognition tests at the International Conference on Computer Vision in 2017 and 2018. This success is attributed to the company's deep investment in Deep learning research and its proprietary training infrastructure.
Brain++ and MegEngine
Brain++ is a deep-learning engine created by Megvii in 2015 to train its algorithms. It serves as the underlying framework for developing and deploying models across the company's product lines. Brain++ integrates data management, model training, and deployment tools, enabling rapid iteration and scaling of AI systems.
In March 2020, Megvii open-sourced MegEngine, the core component of Brain++. This move aimed to foster a broader ecosystem and attract developers, similar to strategies adopted by other AI companies. MegEngine supports Neural network training and inference, with optimizations for both cloud and edge devices. The open-source release includes tools for Model Pruning and Data Augmentation, making it competitive with other frameworks in the Machine learning landscape.
Products and Applications
Megvii's product portfolio spans three main domains: personal IoT, city IoT, and supply chain IoT. Personal IoT includes Face++ authentication for smartphones, mobile payments, and access control. City IoT focuses on surveillance and public safety solutions, such as facial recognition for law enforcement and traffic management. Supply chain IoT applies computer vision to logistics, including package sorting, inventory management, and autonomous vehicles in warehouses.
The company's technology is used by corporate clients across 112 cities in China, with applications in banking, retail, and transportation. Megvii also provides computational photography features to smartphone manufacturers, enhancing camera capabilities with AI-driven scene recognition and portrait effects. These products rely on advanced techniques like Residual Network (ResNet) architectures and Batch Normalization to achieve high accuracy in real-world conditions.
US Sanctions and Controversies
In May 2019, Human Rights Watch reported finding Face++ code in the Integrated Joint Operations Platform (IJOP), a police surveillance app used to collect data on and track the Uyghur community in Xinjiang. Human Rights Watch released a correction to its report in June 2019, stating that Megvii did not appear to have collaborated on IJOP and that the Face++ code in the app was inoperable.
Despite this correction, Megvii was sanctioned by the US government and placed on the United States Bureau of Industry and Security's Entity List on October 9, 2019, due to the use of its technology for human rights abuses against Uyghurs in Xinjiang. In December 2021, the United States Department of the Treasury prohibited all U.S. investment in Megvii, accusing the company of complicity in aiding the persecution of Uyghurs in China. In January 2024, the United States Department of Defense named Megvii on its list of "Chinese Military Companies Operating in the United States."
Following US sanctions, GGV Capital announced its intention to divest from Megvii. In 2022, Megvii laid off workers in multiple departments as a response to U.S. sanctions and ongoing tensions between the United States and China. The sanctions have limited Megvii's access to U.S. capital markets and advanced semiconductor technology, affecting its ability to scale internationally.
Research and Development
As of 2024, Megvii operates the world's largest computer vision research institute. The institute focuses on fundamental research in areas such as Deep learning, Computer vision, and Artificial intelligence. Megvii researchers have published extensively in top conferences and journals, contributing to advancements in object detection, face recognition, and scene understanding.
The research institute collaborates with academic institutions and industry partners, including a 2024 deal with Geely for AI projects in Chongqing and internet-connected intelligent cars. This partnership extends Megvii's expertise into autonomous driving and smart vehicle systems. The company's research efforts also explore Generative AI and Large language model applications, though its core focus remains on visual intelligence.
Corporate Structure and Leadership
Megvii is headquartered in Beijing, China. Yin Qi, one of the co-founders, serves as CEO. The company's leadership team includes experts in computer vision and Machine learning, many of whom have backgrounds in leading tech firms and academic institutions. Megvii's board includes representatives from major investors like GGV Capital, which has been a key backer since early funding rounds.
In 2024, Yin Qi was appointed chairman of the board at Lifan Technology Group, reflecting Megvii's expanded role in the automotive sector through its partnership with Geely. This move signals Megvii's strategic shift toward industrial applications beyond surveillance and authentication, including smart manufacturing and connected vehicles.
Impact and Legacy
Megvii has played a significant role in advancing computer vision technology globally. Its Face++ platform set standards for facial recognition accuracy and scalability, influencing both commercial products and academic research. The company's open-source contributions, such as MegEngine, have provided tools for developers worldwide.
However, Megvii's association with surveillance and its sanctioning by the U.S. government have raised ethical questions about the use of AI in public security. The company's trajectory illustrates the complex interplay between technological innovation, national security, and human rights concerns in the global AI industry. As of 2024, Megvii continues to operate as a major player in computer vision, albeit with restricted access to Western markets and technologies.