第一财经·2025-07-02 14:13Core Viewpoint - The article discusses Baidu's significant overhaul of its search business, marking the largest change in a decade, in response to the evolving landscape of information retrieval and competition from AI-driven search platforms [1]. Group 1: Changes in Search Functionality - Baidu's latest update features a larger "smart box" for search, allowing for over a thousand characters of input and file uploads, integrating AI writing and image generation capabilities [2]. - The new search engine aims to provide deeper task fulfillment, personalized results, and richer content forms, moving beyond traditional search to include functionalities like direct reservations and enhanced multimedia content [2][3]. Group 2: Market Competition and Strategy - Baidu faces competition from various AI search players, including Alibaba's Quark and others, as user behavior shifts towards content platforms like Douyin and Xiaohongshu [1]. - The company emphasizes a "comparative advantage strategy," focusing on excelling in essential user needs while maintaining an open ecosystem to build competitive barriers [4]. Group 3: Impact on Advertising and Monetization - The transition from providing links to delivering answers and content will significantly affect traditional advertising models, necessitating a balance between user experience and ad presentation [3]. - Current AI search commercialization lacks a mature path, with potential models including data-driven product recommendations and subscription services similar to Perplexity [3].