Baidu Reports Explosive Growth in AI Model Usage, Driving Revenue and Search Innovation
BEIJING, Aug. 22, 2024 – Baidu, China’s leading search engine and AI company, announced impressive growth in its AI model usage during its second-quarter earnings call.The company’s flagship AI model, Wenxin, saw a staggering 10-fold increase in daily calls compared to the previous quarter, reaching over600 million daily calls. This translates to a daily processing of approximately 1 trillion tokens, solidifying Wenxin’s position as the most utilized large language model in China.
The surge in Wenxin’s usage can beattributed to the recent launch of Wenxin 4.0 Turbo, an enhanced version of the model boasting superior performance. Baidu also implemented a series of promotional strategies to encourage adoption, further driving the growth.
This is a testamentto the rapid progress we’re making in AI, said Robin Li, Baidu’s founder, chairman, and CEO. We’re seeing significant momentum in our AI business, and it’s driving innovation across all our products and services.
The impact of AI is particularly evident in Baidu’score search business. The company revealed that 18% of its search results are now generated by AI, up from 11% in the first quarter. This signifies a significant shift in the way users interact with search engines, moving beyond traditional web pages and embracing AI-powered responses.
We’re not just adding AI capabilities to search, we’re fundamentally reimagining it, Li explained. With our intelligent agents, we’re providing users with personalized answers and experiences, going beyond simply delivering links.
Baidu’s AI advancements are also fueling its cloud business. The company reported that its intelligentcloud division achieved sustained profitability under non-GAAP accounting standards, generating revenue of 5.1 billion yuan (approximately $700 million) in the second quarter, a 14% year-over-year increase. AI’s contribution to cloud revenue further climbed to 9%, up from 6.9% in the previous quarter.
These developments have contributed to Baidu’s overall financial performance. The company reported total revenue of 33.9 billion yuan (approximately $4.6 billion) for the second quarter, roughly in line with the same period last year. Net income attributable to Baidureached 5.5 billion yuan (approximately $750 million), representing a 5% year-over-year increase.
However, Baidu’s core business revenue, which includes online marketing and non-online marketing, grew only 1% year-over-year, driven by a 2% decline in online marketing revenue. This decline can be attributed to continued macroeconomic headwinds.
Despite the challenges, Baidu remains optimistic about its future prospects. The company is investing heavily in AI, believing it will drive future growth and innovation.
We’re committed to leading the AI revolution, Li stated.We’re confident that our investments in AI will continue to pay off, driving both our business and the broader industry forward.
The second quarter also saw significant progress in Baidu’s autonomous driving business. The company reported 899,000 orders for its autonomous driving services, a 26% year-over-year increase. Baidu’s autonomous driving service has provided over 7 million rides across China, and the company has begun large-scale road testing of its latest RT6 vehicles in fully autonomous mode.
Baidu’s mobile ecosystem continues to grow, with its flagship app, Baidu App, reaching 703 million monthly active users in June, a 4% year-over-year increase. Managed page revenue accounted for 51% of Baidu’s core online marketing revenue in the second quarter.
In addition to its financial performance, Baidu also highlighted its commitmentto research and development. The company’s R&D spending reached 5.9 billion yuan (approximately $810 million) in the second quarter, representing an 8% year-over-year decline, mainly due to a decrease in personnel-related expenses.
Baidu’s strong performance inthe second quarter demonstrates the company’s commitment to AI innovation and its potential to drive future growth. The company’s focus on AI is transforming its core search business, fueling its cloud division, and creating new opportunities in autonomous driving. As AI continues to evolve, Baidu is well-positioned to capitalize on itsleadership in the field and shape the future of the technology industry.
【来源】https://www.yicai.com/news/102242930.html
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