Core Insights - The 2025 World Internet Conference has commenced in Wuzhen, Zhejiang, with a focus on "Internet Innovation and Persistence" led by Zhang Chaoyang, founder and CEO of Sohu [1] Group 1: Talent and Research Integration - Zhang Chaoyang emphasized that talent is crucial for integrating basic research with industry, noting that many engineers in large companies rely on existing experience rather than understanding the underlying principles of technology [3] - He suggested that hiring individuals with backgrounds in physics or basic scientific research as chief scientists in R&D teams could enhance understanding and lead to optimized production processes and innovative manufacturing [3] Group 2: Sohu's Business Focus - Sohu is currently concentrating on traditional consumer internet sectors, particularly in media and social aspects, with a focus on its core social product, "Attention Flow," which is built around PGC, UGC, and Vlog short videos [3] - The "Attention Flow" platform aims to create a diverse ecosystem that includes humorous, useful, and visually appealing content [3] Group 3: Social Interaction and Content Strategy - Zhang highlighted that "Attention Flow" is not just about video interactions but also emphasizes human relationships, differentiating itself from algorithm-driven recommendations [4] - Sohu Video is pursuing a dual approach to enhance its ecosystem, including offline social events and a diverse content strategy to boost user engagement [4] - The company plans to restart its American drama strategy and will combine short and long-form content, operating popular vertical short dramas while also producing horizontal short dramas [4]

Core Insights - The 2025 World Internet Conference has commenced in Wuzhen, Zhejiang, with a focus on "Internet Innovation and Persistence" led by Sohu's founder Zhang Chaoyang [1] Group 1: Talent and Research Integration - Zhang Chaoyang emphasized that talent is crucial for integrating basic research with industry, suggesting that hiring individuals with a background in physics or basic science as chief scientists can enhance R&D teams' understanding of underlying principles [3] - He noted that many engineers in large companies rely on existing experience and formulas, lacking deep exploration of technical principles, which can hinder innovation [3] Group 2: Sohu's Business Focus - Sohu is currently concentrating on traditional consumer internet sectors, particularly in media and social aspects, with a focus on its core social product "Attention Flow" [3] - "Attention Flow" is designed around PGC, UGC, and Vlog short videos, creating a diverse ecosystem that includes humorous, useful, and visually appealing content [3] Group 3: Social Interaction and Content Strategy - Zhang highlighted that "Attention Flow" prioritizes interpersonal relationships over mere content consumption, differentiating itself from algorithm-driven recommendations [4] - Sohu Video is enhancing real-life social interactions through offline events while also diversifying its content ecosystem to boost user engagement [4] - The company plans to revive its American drama strategy and will combine short and long-form content, including both vertical and horizontal short dramas [4]