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Remark Holdings(MARK) - 2022 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for 2022 totaled $11.7 million, reflecting a 27% decrease from $16 million in 2021 [22] - Operating loss increased to $21.3 million in 2022 from $13.9 million in 2021, driven by several factors including a lack of recovery of marketing costs and increased provisions for bad debt [24] - Net loss totaled $55.5 million or $5.22 per diluted share in 2022, compared to net income of $27.5 million or $2.70 per diluted share in 2021 [25] - Cash at December 31, 2022, was approximately $500,000, down from $14.2 million at the end of 2021 [25] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company deployed smart campus products to over 600 schools, serving 1.2 million students daily [8] - Completed 11 smart construction projects in Q4 2022, totaling 97 projects for the year, with expectations for another 100 projects in 2023 [8] - Revenue from initial construction projects generates approximately $100,000 each [8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - U.S. revenue declined primarily due to the absence of a $2.8 million project from 2021 and a decrease in demand for thermal imaging products [22] - Revenue from China decreased to $11.4 million in 2022 from $12.12 million in 2021, largely due to COVID restrictions [23] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to achieve profitability by the end of 2023, focusing on recurring revenue streams from AI-powered solutions [5][19] - Expansion plans include entering the Middle East and Latin America markets [5] - The company differentiates itself by offering a comprehensive platform rather than point solutions, enhancing customer retention [9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about resuming operations in China following the end of COVID restrictions, anticipating a recovery in project deployments [21] - The company sees unprecedented demand for its AI platform across various industries as businesses recover from the pandemic [10] - Management highlighted the potential for significant revenue growth from new projects, particularly in the public sector and transportation markets [19] Other Important Information - The company has launched its own ChatGPT service to augment its offerings [6] - A reverse stock split was executed on December 21, 2022, to improve share price [26] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide more details about the ChatGPT product and how it differs from computer vision AI? - Management explained that the company has been developing large language models since 2017 and is now able to upsell businesses on design services using generative AI [30] Question: Can you elaborate on the revenue generated from smart construction projects? - Management clarified that the $100,000 revenue is generated during the life of the project, with potential for increased revenue as customers become more comfortable with AI [34] Question: How does the company plan to regain investor interest and coverage? - Management indicated that they are working on announcing partnerships and customer collaborations to enhance credibility and attract institutional investors [44]