百度湖北总代理倒闭，一个时代结束了

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the decline of Century Baijie, a major internet marketing company in Hubei, due to changes in Baidu's channel model, leading to the loss of its core revenue source and eventual bankruptcy [8][10][24]. Group 1: Century Baijie's Rise and Fall - Century Baijie, established as Baidu's provincial agent in 2003, thrived during the internet boom, achieving annual sales of 2 billion and net profits of 300 million at its peak [9][10]. - The company was recognized with multiple awards from Baidu, including the "Special Contribution Award" and "Annual Star of Baidu Bidding Ranking" during its prime [9][10]. - The shift in Baidu's channel model, which eliminated exclusive agency rights, marked the end of Century Baijie's profitable era, leading to its liquidation [13][24]. Group 2: Baidu's Strategic Shift - Baidu's decision to abolish the exclusive agency model across several cities indicates a significant transformation in its advertising strategy, moving towards a service provider model [13][24]. - The company's core online marketing revenue fell to 16 billion in Q1 2025, a 6% year-on-year decline, reflecting a broader trend of decreasing market share in the advertising sector [15][16]. - Baidu's advertising budget allocation has shifted dramatically, with only 5% directed towards Baidu, while 70% is now spent on competitors like Douyin and Taobao [16]. Group 3: Challenges in AI and Search Business - Despite investing over 180 billion in AI, Baidu has not established a clear competitive advantage, as evidenced by the decline of its AI product, Wenxin Yiyan, in user engagement [17][18]. - The company's search advertising business faces challenges from AI-generated content, which has reduced user engagement with traditional ads [20]. - Baidu's attempts to pivot into various sectors, including automotive and e-commerce, have not yielded significant breakthroughs, highlighting the urgency for innovation in its core search business [21][24].