Baidu's market value is only 100% from the bottom, when the reformist who served as the 486-day reformer, Lu Qi retired as president of Baidu and COO.
The most immediate change brought about by Lu Qi’s resignation is the concern of the outside world regarding Baidu’s future. After all, Baidu’s ability to accumulate potential energy in the field of artificial intelligence can be transformed into kinetic energy. It requires careful strategic thinking, determination and strong execution. The current situation is The reform has just entered the deep-water zone, but the trader has left the middle ground. After the news was announced, Baidu's share price fell by nearly 10%, and the market value evaporated at nearly $10 billion.
For Baidu, which is transitioning to artificial intelligence, Lu Qi’s change is undoubtedly the biggest variable.
Kai-fu Lee once commented that Lu Qi is a rare 'top strategist and executor'. During the past year, during the period of Lu Qibai’s administration, Baidu internally dared to 'smile knife' and clearly sorted out Baidu’s strategy. And organizations, for example, divide the business into four quadrants according to the degree of importance, and abolish the medical division and game business; second, integrate the artificial intelligence team, personally lead the intelligent driving business group, and in-depth integration form the Baidu AI Technology Platform System (AIG). Baidu built a clear AI route; third, it broke the bureaucratic culture and launched the 'new style club' internally, improving the dialogue mechanism between employees and the senior management.
For more than a year, Baidu’s share price has risen from a low of 160 US dollars to a maximum of 284 US dollars. Its market value has exceeded 40 billion U.S. dollars and exceeded 90 billion U.S. dollars.
After more than a year of reforms, it is not yet known whether Baidu will have a 'next Luqie' in the future. And whether he will continue to make adjustments and decisions will continue to advance, and implementation may be faced with changes.
For example, in the latest organizational structure adjustment, Baidu founder Li Yanhong returned to the front line. Previously, the autopilot group (IDG) and Smart Life Business Group (SLG) led by Lu Qi had different reporting lines. Among them, Li Zhenyu’s Autonomous Driving Business Group (IDG) turned to Zhang Yaqin, and the Smart Life Business Group (SLG) was promoted to General Manager of the Department of Secret Affairs. Jing Wei was the general manager of SLG, reporting directly to Li Yanhong.
Different reporting objects may suggest that Baidu's focus on these two major AI business changes. How will Apollo, the autopilot platform, go? This year's Baidu AI Developer Conference may look at how Baidu announced its latest technology and commercialization prospects. .
However, Lu Qi left the field, Baidu AI really become confused?
If we look at Baidu’s main business, the main channel business of Baidu’s “money bag”, such as mobile search, feed, and hand-hunting, has not changed significantly.
At the same time, in the past year, Baidu’s AI strategy has become clear under Lu Qi’s combing. Baidu has built an AI underlying technology platform (including speech recognition, image recognition, NLP, search, and driverless AI applications), AI The progress of commercialization and layout are increasingly clear. In addition, promotion of Wang Haifeng, vice president of Li Yanhong's internal letter, is also a key signal.
In fact, some insiders disclosed to the author that Apollo and DuerOS first proposed to associate himself with Li Yanhong and that he was the first to propose the 'automatic driving open ecology'.
At present, Apollo platform eco-partners include Mercedes-Benz, BAIC, Chery, FAW and other domestic and foreign automakers and component manufacturers. Among Duer OS, Baidu has signed cooperation with more than 120 home appliance manufacturers such as Lenovo, Haier, Midea, and TCL. 1 billion yuan investment in Skyworth Holdings's cool open.
Behind so many strategic cooperations, Baidu's AI layout and commercialization route, at the moment of Li Yanhong’s decision to open all technologies and codes, did not take a bow.
He said that the reason for opening up years of accumulated technology is not to say that Baidu will not be defeated, but will open up all the best technologies. Partners will know that Baidu is determined and will feel at ease. Baidu walks.
As the strategic layout became clearer and the reforms entered the deep-water zone, as a reformer airborne from overseas, Lu Qi, whose personnel rights and financial power were not in the hands, had already done what he was supposed to do. Today, the traders 'disembark', and then , Execution will be the key to Baidu's ability to stand the test.