在科技公司忙着教输入法写诗、画画甚至预测未来时，用户只想准确地打字、表达自己的意思，这 个朴素的想法却成了一种奢望。 步入2026年，老牌霸主搜狗输入法迎来20岁生日。经济观察报获悉，腾讯内部正在酝酿着一场变 革，用AI把输入法重做一遍，这不仅是功能的优化，更是意在推动AI语音、AI打字、AI翻译等方面 全面升级。 然而，一个荒诞的反差正在发生：输入法试图越来越"聪明"地预测意图，却越来越"笨拙"地处理 用户的指令。 在各大社交平台和投诉渠道，有不少关于"输入法变笨"的讨论。用户吐槽，以前打首字母就能联 想出词组，现在全拼输入还可能出现完全不相关的词。例如，输入"nanyong（难用）"首先联想 出的是"男用"，"congyoudaozuo（从右到左）"第一个出现的是"葱油刀座"。词联想不准、语 音识别出错、广告弹窗过多……这些问题正在消耗用户对输入法的耐心。 词联想不准、语音识别出错、广告弹窗过多……这些问题正在 消耗用户对输入法的耐心。这并非大厂减少了对输入法应用的 投入。相反，在AI成为标配的时代，主流输入法们正卷入一 场"军备竞赛"…… 作者：钱玉娟 封图：本报资料库 这并非大厂减少了对输入法应用的投 ...

经济观察报 记者 钱玉娟 在科技公司忙着教输入法写诗、画画甚至预测未来时，用户只想准确地打字、表达自己的意思，这个朴素的想法却成了一种奢望。 步入2026年，老牌霸主搜狗输入法迎来20岁生日。经济观察报获悉，腾讯内部正在酝酿着一场变革，用AI把输入法重做一遍，这不仅是功能的优化，更是 意在推动AI语音、AI打字、AI翻译等方面全面升级。 然而，一个荒诞的反差正在发生：输入法试图越来越"聪明"地预测意图，却越来越"笨拙"地处理用户的指令。 在各大社交平台和投诉渠道，有不少关于"输入法变笨"的讨论。用户吐槽，以前打首字母就能联想出词组，现在全拼输入还可能出现完全不相关的词。例 如，输入"nanyong（难用）"首先联想出的是"男用"，"congyoudaozuo（从右到左）"第一个出现的是"葱油刀座"。词联想不准、语音识别出错、广告弹窗过 多……这些问题正在消耗用户对输入法的耐心。 这并非大厂减少了对输入法应用的投入。相反，在AI成为标配的时代，主流输入法们正卷入一场"军备竞赛"：腾讯旗下的搜狗输入法、微信输入法，百度输 入法、科大讯飞输入法及字节旗下豆包输入法等，都恨不得把最新的语音、多模态、生成技术等AI能力 ...

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the recent emergence of input methods as a strategic entry point for major tech companies, highlighting the competitive landscape and the potential for monetization through AI integration and user data collection [5][9][26]. Group 1: Input Method Market Dynamics - ByteDance's Doubao input method has launched, featuring a simple interface and strong voice recognition capabilities, which sets it apart from competitors [5][6]. - Major tech companies, including WeChat and Baidu, are re-entering the input method market, indicating a renewed interest in this seemingly basic tool that serves as a critical flow entry point for apps [9][11]. - Input methods are described as "bug-level" entities in the app ecosystem, acting as intermediaries that capture user needs before they reach other applications [11][12]. Group 2: Strategic Importance of Input Methods - Historically, input methods have been used to drive traffic and capture user data, with examples from the PC era where Sogou's search candidate feature redirected users to its own search engine [12][15]. - In the AI era, the potential of input methods has expanded, allowing for real-time translations and information retrieval without switching apps, enhancing their value as a traffic conduit [15][20]. - The competitive landscape is intensifying, with companies like Baidu and Sogou integrating AI features into their input methods to enhance user experience and maintain relevance [17][19]. Group 3: Monetization Strategies - Companies are exploring various monetization avenues, including advertising within AI responses, similar to past search engine practices [20][22]. - Input methods can serve as hooks to draw users into proprietary ecosystems, facilitating deeper engagement with the company's services [23]. - User data collected through input methods can be utilized for product optimization and training AI models, representing a hidden value stream for companies [24][25]. Group 4: Future Outlook - The article suggests that the current trend of tech giants revisiting input methods reflects a broader strategy to leverage AI across foundational services, indicating a cyclical nature in tech development [26][28]. - The high ROI associated with input methods makes them an attractive business opportunity for large companies, reinforcing their strategic importance in the digital landscape [26].

真正的转折，其实发生在我开始高频使用各种 AI App 的这两年。 第一次真正觉得「语音输入这件事好像值得重视」，是各个 AI App 里那个「语音转文字」按钮变得越来越好用的时候。这些 App 里的语音转写，明显比 传统输入法里的语音要聪明得多：它不仅能听清我在说什么，还能自动加上标点，帮我把一些口语化的表达整理得比较书面，甚至在我说得磕磕绊绊的时 候，最后呈现出来的那一段文字读起来仍然是顺的。 如果几年前有人跟我说，「你以后写稿可能不怎么需要键盘了」，我大概会把这句话当成一句玩笑。那时候我正处在对机械键盘的迷恋期，研究轴体、键 帽、键程，购入过 Cherry、Filco、NiZ、Keychron、3D 打印分体式键盘。甚至为了提高打字效率，专门学习过双拼输入法。 我的注意力都放在消费的快感上，很少认真想过这样一个问题： 敲键盘，真的是输入的最优解吗？ 主流的 AI 几乎都覆盖了语音转文字功能｜图片来源：极客公园 更关键的是，它和后面的 AI 是连在一起的——我说完一句话，看到的不只是干巴巴的转写结果，而是 AI 根据这段话给我的反馈和回答。那一刻我第一 次有了一个直观的感受：语音不再只是一个「替代键盘的输 ...

Core Insights - Doubao has launched a new product, Doubao Input Method, aiming to disrupt the traditional input method market dominated by WeChat and other established players [1][5] - The input method market has seen limited innovation until the introduction of WeChat Input Method in 2022, which quickly gained popularity due to WeChat's vast user base [1][3] - Doubao Input Method leverages advanced voice recognition technology as its main selling point, differentiating itself from competitors by focusing on user experience and AI capabilities [3][7] Product Features - Doubao Input Method emphasizes voice input, retaining only Pinyin input while removing traditional features like handwriting and skin management to highlight its AI strengths [8][12] - The application is designed to be user-friendly, with a layout similar to WeChat Input Method, making it easier for users to switch [6] - It utilizes the Seed - ASR2.0 model for voice recognition, which can understand context, recognize specialized terms, and filter out background noise effectively [7][8] Competitive Landscape - Doubao has a monthly active user base of 170 million, but still lags behind WeChat's 1.4 billion users, creating a long-term challenge for Doubao in the AI application space [3][5] - Tencent is actively enhancing WeChat's capabilities, including the integration of AI features, which poses a potential threat to Doubao's growth [4][14] - Doubao's strategy involves positioning itself as a tool within WeChat, aiming to attract new users by addressing WeChat's weaknesses [4][5] Market Dynamics - Doubao's approach is characterized by agility and rapid iteration, allowing it to respond quickly to market demands and user feedback, unlike WeChat, which must consider the broader implications of changes due to its large user base [21][20] - The competition between Doubao and WeChat highlights a fundamental difference in their operational philosophies: Doubao seeks to innovate aggressively, while WeChat prioritizes stability and gradual improvements [21][20]

Core Insights - The recent surge in large models has unexpectedly revitalized the input method sector, previously considered a basic infrastructure, making it attractive by the second half of 2025 [1]. Group 1: Market Developments - In the past two months, there has been a significant increase in news density regarding voice input technologies, with major developments from both domestic and international players [2]. - Domestic advancements include ByteDance's Doubao input method officially launching after internal testing, and WeChat input method continuously iterating on AI-assisted features [2]. - Internationally, Wispr announced a $25 million Series A funding round, bringing its total funding to $81 million, while Typeless gained attention on Product Hunt [2]. Group 2: Competitive Landscape - The voice input market can be categorized into three main camps: 1. Desktop SaaS players like Wispr and Typeless, focusing on productivity for core office users. 2. Mobile giants like Doubao and WeChat, leveraging vast ecosystem traffic for social interactions. 3. Low-cost indie developers represented by Whisper Keyboard and Lightning Say, focusing on localized or independent development [4]. Group 3: Product Performance - A subjective testing scenario revealed Typeless as the best desktop input method and Doubao as the best mobile input method, with specific strengths in handling complex language and context [6]. - Typeless achieved a processing time of 3.05 seconds, effectively removing filler words and correcting formats, while Doubao excelled with a 2.05-second response time, accurately interpreting context [6][13]. - WeChat input method, with a rapid 1.08 seconds response time, remains dominant in casual communication despite some limitations in professional formatting [13]. Group 4: User Experience Insights - The user experience of third-party voice input methods on iOS is often hindered by permission issues, requiring app switches for voice input [8]. - Doubao's voice model demonstrates superior performance in speed and accuracy, particularly in Chinese, although it faces challenges on iOS due to Apple's privacy restrictions [8][42]. - Typeless offers the best output quality for desktop users, providing high accuracy and innovative interaction features, while Lightning Say, despite its speed, struggles with professional terminology [8][60]. Group 5: Technological Evolution - The voice input sector is experiencing a paradigm shift from traditional automatic speech recognition (ASR) to models that understand and reconstruct language, enhancing user interaction [63]. - This evolution allows for greater tolerance of user errors, enabling a more natural and intuitive communication interface, transforming input methods into tools for thought rather than mere transcription [64][65].

Core Insights - The article discusses the emergence of Doubao Input Method by ByteDance, which aims to capitalize on the controversy surrounding Sogou Input Method and focuses on voice input technology [1][5][11] - The integration of AI with input methods has been a trend among major Chinese internet companies, with various upgrades and features introduced to enhance user experience [3][5] - The primary challenge for AI input methods lies in their interaction logic, which often limits the amount of information presented, making it less effective compared to AI assistants [5][9] Industry Trends - Major companies like Baidu and Tencent have previously launched AI-enhanced input methods, transforming them into AI creative tools and adding features like AI Q&A [3][5] - The focus on input methods is partly due to their ability to bridge text and image generation capabilities, facilitating user adaptation to AI-generated content [3][5] Target Market - Doubao Input Method specifically targets the elderly demographic, who often struggle with digital technology, thus addressing the digital divide [5][8][11] - The article highlights the need for user-friendly features, such as larger fonts and simplified interfaces, to cater to older users [8] Competitive Advantage - Doubao's voice recognition model, Seed-ASR, boasts a significant reduction in error rates compared to competitors, enhancing its appeal to the elderly [9][11] - The ability to accurately interpret user intent, even with recognition errors, positions Doubao Input Method as a strong contender in the market [11]

Industry Overview - The Chinese third-party input method industry is entering a new growth cycle in 2025, driven by large model technology, which is transforming the industry in terms of scale, technology, products, competition, and user demand [1][8] - The overall industry scale is shifting into a growth phase, with generative AI products showing significant advancements in the first half of 2025, as 346 generative AI services have been registered in China [1][12] - The AI industry in China is projected to exceed 700 billion yuan in 2024, maintaining a growth rate of over 20% for several consecutive years [1][12] Technological Advancements - Key technological breakthroughs include lightweight deployment and multi-modal integration, which enable collaborative architecture and plugin expansion, driving product paradigm upgrades [1][13] - The input method is evolving from a passive tool to an active intelligent hub, addressing pain points in social creation and cross-language communication [1][14] Competitive Landscape - The market exhibits a "Matthew Effect," with Sogou, iFlytek, Baidu, and WeChat input methods capturing 84.4% of the market share [1][16] - In terms of new user growth, iFlytek leads with the highest increase and growth rate, while Sogou and Baidu also show significant monthly new user increments [1][19] User Insights - The primary user demographic consists of young adults, particularly those aged 18-24, with students being the largest audience segment [2][23] - Over half of the users are aware of AI-driven input methods, with the highest satisfaction reported for information search functions [2][26] Future Outlook - The industry is expected to upgrade the input experience under the influence of "hot topics + large models," leading to a trend of "broad empowerment" [2] - The input method may evolve into an intention-driven command center, continuously transitioning towards becoming an intelligent service hub [2]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the evolution and features of WeChat Input Method, emphasizing its integration of AI and user-friendly functionalities, which aim to enhance user experience while protecting user data privacy. Group 1: WeChat Input Method Features - WeChat Input Method has adopted a layout similar to the iOS native keyboard but includes additional functionality such as a dedicated period key and the ability to input numbers and symbols more easily [4][8][10] - The input method retains and extends features from the iOS keyboard, such as customizable pinyin display and enhanced cursor control, allowing users to move the cursor more efficiently [12][14] - It includes a multi-functional delete key that improves deletion efficiency, allowing users to delete entire sections of text or restore deleted content easily [15][16] Group 2: AI Integration and User Experience - The integration of AI in WeChat Input Method allows for features like AI search and intelligent recommendations, enhancing the overall user experience within the WeChat ecosystem [34][37] - The AI search function provides users with organized content and the ability to generate images directly from the input method, streamlining the search process [37][40] - WeChat Input Method supports cross-device clipboard functionality, enabling users to copy and paste content across different devices, which strengthens user reliance on the WeChat ecosystem [25][27] Group 3: Data Privacy and Strategic Importance - WeChat Input Method serves as a protective measure for user data, preventing third-party input methods from accessing sensitive user information [30][32] - The development of WeChat Input Method aligns with Tencent's strategy to maintain user privacy and control over personal data, as highlighted by the company's focus on user feedback regarding data security [33][34] - The input method is positioned as a key tool for user interaction with devices, facilitating communication and information transfer while ensuring data remains within the WeChat ecosystem [34][41]

Core Viewpoint - WeChat has introduced new features that allow users to convert text comments into images and enhance text formatting, making sharing and saving content more visually appealing and user-friendly [1][5]. Group 1: New Features - Users can now convert comments from the video account into images with a simple long press, allowing for easy sharing of favorite comments [2]. - The "text image" feature in WeChat input method enables users to automatically generate various styles of images from text, eliminating the need for external editing software [5]. - Users can save entire articles as images for easy access later, enhancing the way content is shared and stored [8]. Group 2: User Engagement - The new features aim to improve user engagement by allowing users to share visually appealing content rather than plain text, which may get overlooked [8]. - The ability to share comments as images can help retain the context and source of the information, making it more meaningful for recipients [8].