产业聚焦·半年报新亮点丨互联网新兴业务蓬勃发展

Core Insights - The internet industry in China has shown resilience with a revenue of 961.3 billion yuan in the first half of the year, marking a 3.1% year-on-year growth, which is an increase of 2.2 percentage points compared to the first five months of the year [2] - Emerging businesses such as 5G, live streaming, and cloud gaming are thriving, with digital consumption demand continuing to rise, leading to a double-digit growth in mobile internet traffic for six consecutive months [2] - The application of artificial intelligence (AI) is expanding across various sectors, with significant government subsidies driving consumer purchases of AI-enabled devices [2] Investment and Innovation - Internet companies invested 48.56 billion yuan in R&D in the first half of the year, reflecting a 2.6% increase, indicating a strong commitment to innovation despite a challenging environment [5] - Major companies are shifting their focus from application layers to core technology areas such as AI chips and operating systems to build competitive advantages [5] - Alibaba announced plans to invest over 380 billion yuan in cloud and AI infrastructure over the next three years, emphasizing the importance of foundational technology and model development [5] Digital Infrastructure Growth - As of June, China has 4.549 million 5G base stations and 10.43 million operational computing standard racks, with intelligent computing capacity reaching 748 EFLOPS [4] - The growth in digital infrastructure investments is expected to support the steady development of the internet industry and create new business expenditures [4] AI Application and Market Trends - By the end of June, 439 generative AI services had completed registration, with significant advancements in large model products that integrate into various business scenarios [7] - AI technologies are being applied successfully in finance, healthcare, and manufacturing, enhancing efficiency and reducing costs [8] - The online retail market has seen a robust growth of 8.5% in the first half of the year, driven by effective promotional activities and the integration of AI in e-commerce [9][10] Consumer Behavior and Market Dynamics - The trend of "buying for emotions" has emerged, with 327 million users engaging in this behavior, indicating a shift in consumer purchasing motivations [10] - Instant retail has gained traction, with 569 million online food delivery users, representing 50.7% of the total internet user base [10] - Alibaba's integration of its platforms into a comprehensive consumer service system reflects a strategic move to enhance user experience and operational efficiency [11]