Core Viewpoint - Zhihu has achieved its first quarterly profit after 14 years, marking a significant milestone in its journey towards profitability, although this has primarily been driven by cost-cutting rather than revenue growth [1][5][10]. Financial Performance - In Q2 2024, Zhihu reported an adjusted net profit of 91.3 million RMB, marking three consecutive quarters of Non-GAAP profitability [1]. - However, Zhihu's revenue declined by 23.7% year-on-year in the first half of 2024, with all major business segments—marketing services, paid memberships, and vocational training—experiencing revenue drops [2][3]. - The company managed to reduce its cost of revenue by 31.13% and total operating expenses by 30.87%, leading to an increase in gross margin from 58.1% to 62.2% [3][4]. - Investment income significantly contributed to profitability, amounting to 160 million RMB, compared to 38.71 million RMB in the same period last year [3]. Strategic Shifts - The management's focus has shifted towards cost reduction and operational efficiency, prioritizing profitability over aggressive growth [5][10]. - Zhihu's strategy has evolved from rapid commercial expansion to a more sustainable approach that emphasizes community health and user experience, even at the cost of scaling [9][12]. - The company has recognized the need to balance commercial goals with maintaining a healthy community ecosystem, leading to a strategic pivot towards "ecology-first" [10][12]. User Engagement and Community Dynamics - Despite achieving profitability, Zhihu has seen a decline in monthly active users, losing over 17 million users in 2024, which raises concerns about its long-term growth potential [10]. - The platform's advertising revenue continues to decline, and paid membership income has also decreased, indicating challenges in maintaining user engagement and monetization [10][11]. AI Integration and Future Prospects - Zhihu has launched an AI search product, "Zhihu Direct Answer," which has seen increased user engagement, with 50 million monthly active users interested in AI content [13][15]. - The company aims to leverage AI to enhance content quality and user experience, although challenges remain regarding the accuracy and reliability of existing content [16][17]. - The integration of AI is seen as a potential opportunity for Zhihu to strengthen its competitive advantage, but the complexity of community dynamics may pose challenges [15][18].