Xin Lang Cai Jing·2025-12-29 13:02Core Insights - The Chinese cloud computing industry is undergoing a significant transformation, with AI IaaS market expected to grow by 122.4% year-on-year by mid-2025, indicating a shift towards computing power as a critical resource [2] - Traditional public cloud IaaS growth has stagnated, with a historic decline of 14.1% in non-AI business, highlighting the shift from resource-based services to intelligence-driven solutions [3] Group 1: Market Dynamics - The competitive landscape has shifted dramatically, with a new focus on who will dominate as the "operating system" of the AI era, featuring key players like Baidu, Alibaba, and ByteDance [5] - ByteDance's Volcano Engine has rapidly gained market share, reaching 49.2% in the large model public cloud calling market by mid-2025, disrupting traditional cloud business models [8] - Baidu's strategy focuses on self-developed Kunlun chips to create a differentiated advantage, allowing it to maintain a strong position in the market despite price competition [13][16] Group 2: Technological Evolution - The evolution of cloud computing has transitioned from server leasing in the PC internet era to a digital foundation in the mobile internet era, and now to an intelligent engine in the AI era, emphasizing the integration of computing power, models, data, and industry knowledge [6] - The emergence of AI has necessitated a shift from resource leasing to providing comprehensive capabilities, with cloud vendors needing to transform from "selling resources" to "selling capabilities" to remain competitive [6] Group 3: Strategic Approaches - Alibaba's strategy involves offering free models while charging for cloud services, aiming to create an ecosystem that binds developers to its cloud infrastructure [20][21] - Baidu's focus on enterprise clients and its self-developed technology allows it to avoid the pitfalls of price wars, instead leveraging its technological capabilities to secure a strong market position [16][22] - Tencent is integrating AI capabilities into its existing ecosystem, enhancing monetization efficiency across its platforms [22] Group 4: Future Outlook - The term "cloud computing" is becoming less prominent as the focus shifts to the output of intelligence and the integration of AI into everyday applications [23][24] - The consensus among Chinese cloud vendors is that the ultimate goal is not just data storage but the output of intelligence, marking the beginning of a new era in cloud computing [26]