Group 1 - Major internet companies in China, including Alibaba, ByteDance, Tencent, Meituan, and Xiaomi, have launched recruitment campaigns for AI talent for the 2026 academic year, indicating a fierce competition for AI professionals [1][2] - ByteDance's recruitment strategy includes various talent programs such as the Top Seed plan, which focuses on attracting AI researchers through high salaries and substantial resources [1][2][9] - The demand for AI talent is reflected in the significant increase in job offers, with ByteDance opening over 5,000 positions, of which more than 1,200 are directly related to AI [12][15] Group 2 - ByteDance has been increasing its investment in AI, with projections indicating it will lead in AI capital investment among major companies from 2024 onwards [3][8] - The competition for AI talent has led to "sky-high" salaries, with ByteDance reportedly offering annual salaries exceeding 3 million yuan for top talent [9][11] - The recruitment landscape is evolving, with AI positions becoming a distinct category in job platforms, reflecting a growing interest from job seekers in AI-related roles [16][18] Group 3 - The recruitment efforts are seen as a strategic bet on the future, with companies vying for talent that could drive technological breakthroughs [19]

Core Viewpoint - Pinduoduo is quietly accelerating its recruitment in AI and large model areas, indicating a strategic shift towards integrating AI technologies into its e-commerce operations, despite not publicly discussing its AI initiatives [3][8]. Recruitment and Talent Acquisition - In the past month, Pinduoduo has posted numerous job openings related to large models, including positions for machine learning engineers, CUDA/GPU development engineers, and multi-modal algorithm engineers [3][8]. - The job descriptions highlight the need for building large models suitable for the e-commerce sector and exploring multi-modal algorithms for cross-border e-commerce applications [3][8]. R&D Investment - Pinduoduo's R&D expenditure for Q1 2025 was reported at 3.58 billion yuan, an increase from 2.91 billion yuan in the same period last year and above market expectations of 3.39 billion yuan, indicating a commitment to innovation despite profit pressures [8]. Industry Context - The article notes that AI technology's potential to reduce costs and innovate business models in e-commerce is gaining attention, with industry leaders recognizing the opportunities and challenges presented by the AI era [8].