Core Viewpoint - The launch of the video call feature by Doubao represents a significant technological breakthrough, marking a shift in AI's ability to perceive and understand the real world, which could lead to new business opportunities and models [1][20]. Group 1: Technological Advancements - The transition from traditional image recognition to semantic understanding is crucial, where AI not only identifies objects but also comprehends their context and relationships [3][4]. - The new capabilities of Doubao are based on a multimodal large model that integrates visual and linguistic understanding, allowing for real-time interaction and contextual comprehension [4][5]. - The emergence of "embodied intelligence" signifies that AI can perceive the external world through cameras and respond intelligently, moving beyond being a passive tool [5][6]. Group 2: Potential Applications - In office settings, AI can analyze visual data, such as K-line charts, and provide insights, leading to a new service model termed "Screen as a Service" [12][13]. - In education, AI can assist students by analyzing problems directly from their screens and providing solutions verbally [14]. - In healthcare, AI can enhance efficiency by quickly analyzing CT scans and identifying abnormalities, significantly reducing the time required for diagnosis [16]. - Retail experiences will evolve, allowing consumers to instantly access product information and make purchases through visual recognition, streamlining the buying process [17][18]. - Manufacturing processes will benefit from AI's ability to monitor production lines for defects, enhancing quality control and operational efficiency [19][20]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Doubao, backed by ByteDance, is positioned to leverage user feedback and data-driven product innovation, potentially expanding its capabilities to other platforms like Douyin and AI glasses [21][22]. - Other companies, such as Quark and Tencent, are also developing AI visual functionalities, but their approaches differ, with Quark focusing on information retrieval and Tencent's product facing user retention challenges [22][24]. - The long-term success of Doubao will depend on the quality and diversity of data for training, as well as its integration into various industries like education, healthcare, and manufacturing [25][26].

Core Viewpoint - The competition for AI "super entry" is intensifying among major internet companies, with Alibaba, ByteDance, and Tencent all investing heavily to capture user engagement in the AI application market [1][2][3]. Group 1: Market Dynamics - Alibaba has upgraded its smart search product Quark to become a flagship AI-to-C (consumer) product, aiming to be the leading "super entry" in the AI era [1][2]. - ByteDance's Doubao and Tencent's Yuanbao are also significant players, with Doubao adopting aggressive advertising strategies to capture market share [2][3]. - QuestMobile data shows that during March 10-16, Quark had 106.6 million downloads and 842.3 million active users, while Doubao had 706.1 million downloads [2]. Group 2: Competitive Strategies - Tencent's Yuanbao, which initially had a smaller user base, has rapidly increased its advertising spend to 14.26 billion in Q1, significantly boosting its user downloads to 321.4 million by March 10-16 [3][9]. - The competition is characterized by a lack of clear differentiation among products, leading to low user retention rates averaging around 25% [9][10]. Group 3: Business Considerations - The drive for AI "super entry" is motivated by the desire to control the next generation of traffic, as user interaction is shifting from active search to intelligent services [4][5]. - The potential for new business models and revenue streams through AI "super entry" is seen as crucial, especially as traditional advertising models face challenges [5][11]. Group 4: Differentiation and User Experience - Each company's approach to AI "super entry" reflects its unique strengths; for instance, Quark integrates various tools based on its search capabilities, while Doubao focuses on a more interactive, entertainment-driven experience [6][7][8]. - The need for a seamless user experience across multiple scenarios is emphasized, with a focus on deep integration of services to enhance user value [11][12].