Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the transformation of "What Worth Buying" (SMZDM) from a traditional e-commerce guide tool to an AI-driven interest-based consumption platform, emphasizing the need to balance efficiency with user trust and content quality [1][18][21]. Group 1: Company Background and Development - "What Worth Buying" started as a blog in 2010 by founder Sui Guodong, aimed at alleviating consumer fears about e-commerce and providing trustworthy product recommendations [2][4]. - The platform officially launched in October 2011, focusing on real recommendations and addressing information asymmetry in e-commerce [4][5]. - The company received its only funding of 100 million yuan from Huachuang Capital in September 2015 and went public in July 2019, becoming the first A-share e-commerce guide stock [4][7]. Group 2: Business Model and Revenue Structure - The primary revenue model is based on information promotion services, including commission from referrals and advertising, with referral commissions making up a significant portion of the income [7][8]. - From 2016 to 2018, the share of information promotion services in total revenue decreased from 98.91% to 80.22%, while advertising revenue increased significantly [7][8]. - User-generated content (UGC) has been a key advantage, with UGC accounting for over 70% of total content, leading to high trust and engagement among users [8][10]. Group 3: Market Position and Challenges - As of June 2024, the platform had approximately 29.64 million registered users, with a year-on-year growth of 7.02%, indicating a stable user base [8]. - The e-commerce guide market in China is projected to grow significantly, with a transaction scale of 433.1 billion yuan in 2022 [11]. - The platform faces challenges from increased competition, including social media platforms like Xiaohongshu and Douyin, which attract consumer attention through different engagement methods [10][13]. Group 4: Strategic Transformation and Future Outlook - The launch of the GEN2 version represents a strategic shift towards an interest-based community, focusing on personalized user needs and AI-driven content recommendations [18][19]. - The platform aims to enhance user engagement while maintaining trust, which is critical given the rise of AI-generated content and advertising [21]. - The future success of "What Worth Buying" hinges on its ability to adapt to the evolving e-commerce landscape and maintain a sustainable narrative amidst growing competition [21].