Jing Ji Guan Cha Bao·2025-08-18 08:36Core Insights - AI search is emerging as a key competitive area among global tech giants, with Weibo recognizing its potential early on [1][2] - Weibo's Q2 2025 earnings report shows total revenue of $444.8 million, approximately 3.2 billion RMB, and adjusted operating profit of $161.8 million, about 1.16 billion RMB, exceeding Wall Street expectations [1][3] - The stock price of Weibo surged by 11.28% in the US market and over 11% in Hong Kong following the earnings announcement, reaching a new high since November 2023 [1][3] - Weibo's AI-driven intelligent search, Weibo Zhiso, has shown significant growth, with over 50 million active users in June [1][3][10] Growth Potential - Weibo Zhiso's monthly active users grew significantly, with a compound growth rate of 41.7% in the first half of 2025, ranking second among top applications [3][12] - The integration of AI search is expected to enhance user experience and engagement, potentially increasing the platform's core operational metrics [11][12] - Weibo aims to leverage its content ecosystem to differentiate its AI search capabilities, enhancing user satisfaction and retention [7][8] Market Positioning - The evolution of search from keyword matching to AI-driven understanding of user intent marks a significant shift in the industry [4][5] - Weibo's content community provides a unique advantage in data quality and timeliness, essential for AI training and user engagement [6][7] - The integration of Weibo Zhiso with existing features like trending topics creates a synergistic effect, enhancing user understanding of complex information [15][16] Commercialization Strategy - Weibo Zhiso is positioned as a core product for driving the next phase of growth, moving beyond traditional advertising models to a diversified approach [11][12] - The AI search tool is expected to facilitate a new revenue model by integrating advertising with service and data offerings [12][13] - The platform's ability to provide structured answers rather than just links enhances its value proposition in the competitive landscape [10][11] User Engagement - Weibo Zhiso aims to lower the barriers for users to understand complex topics, transforming the user experience from passive information consumption to active inquiry [15][16] - The tool's design allows for the presentation of diverse viewpoints on contentious issues, potentially improving the quality of community discussions [16][17] - By creating a dynamic knowledge repository, Weibo Zhiso seeks to enhance user loyalty and engagement on the platform [25][26]