Core Viewpoint - AI search is becoming a core competitive area for global tech giants, with Weibo's AI search product, Weibo Zhiso, showing significant growth potential as indicated by its latest financial results [1][2][4]. Financial Performance - Weibo reported total revenue of $444.8 million (approximately 3.2 billion RMB) for Q2 2025, with an adjusted operating profit of $161.8 million (approximately 1.16 billion RMB), exceeding Wall Street expectations [2]. - Following the earnings announcement, Weibo's stock price surged by 11.28% in the US market and over 11% in the Hong Kong market, reaching a new high since November 2023 [2]. AI Search Growth - Weibo's AI-driven intelligent search, Zhiso, has seen active users exceed 50 million as of June, indicating strong community growth [2][6]. - The product's rapid development is attributed to optimized model strategies, enriched data content, and increased user engagement from content creators [6]. Market Trends - AI search is evolving from a simple information retrieval tool to a decision-support system, impacting content recommendation and user interaction [4][8]. - Major tech companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Baidu are integrating AI search capabilities, indicating a shift in market dynamics [4]. Competitive Advantage - Weibo's content ecosystem provides a unique advantage in the AI search landscape, offering timely and rich data that traditional search engines may lack [10][11]. - The platform's ability to leverage user-generated content (UGC) enhances its AI model's understanding of user intent, making it more effective in delivering personalized search results [11][12]. User Engagement and Experience - Zhiso aims to create a seamless user experience by integrating information discovery and understanding, transforming how users interact with content on the platform [25][30]. - The product is designed to lower the barriers to understanding complex information, allowing users to engage more deeply with trending topics [26][32]. Future Outlook - Weibo's strategic investment in AI search is seen as a necessary move to remain competitive and avoid technological obsolescence [20]. - The introduction of Zhiso is expected to not only enhance user retention but also open new avenues for monetization beyond traditional advertising models [21][22].
微博加码AI搜索，智搜能否复刻热搜？