Baidu is the dominant search engine in China, holding over 75% of the market share. This article explains how Baidu operates as a learning platform, which improves its accuracy and quality as it accrues more users and interactions. It also covers the basic features and functions of Baidu search engine and how it serves both human and digital agents.
Category Archives: Platform Types: Learning
Yes, OpenAI and Google Will Likely Have Moats in Generative AI (Tech Strategy – Podcast 164)
In this episode of the Tech Strategy podcast, Jeff Towson discusses the future of generative AI and how OpenAI and Google are likely to have moats in this technology. He explains how these companies are using their vast amounts of data to train their models and how this will make it difficult for competitors to catch up. Towson also talks about the potential applications of generative AI and how it could change the way we live and work.
How Generative AI Services Are Disrupting Platform Business Models (1 of 2) (Tech Strategy – Daily Article)
I did a podcast about how “Generative AI as a Service” is disrupting some particularly dominant platform business models. I mentioned YouTube, TikTok and OnlyFans. But we can also point to search engines, community sites and many others. How Generative AI Is Going to Disrupt YouTube, TikTok and OnlyFans (Tech Strategy – Podcast 152) The […]
Unveiling Baidu: How China’s Top Search Engine Thrives as a Learning Platform (1 of 3) (Tech Strategy – Daily Update)
Baidu, China’s leading search engine, is a “learning platform” that becomes smarter with increased user activity. Founded by Robin Li in 2000, it was designed to cater to search users, webpages, and advertisers. Baidu, like other learning platforms, can serve both human and digital agents, enhancing their service based on the overall and individual user activity.
Compelling Digital Business Models by Walgreens and Ping An Good Doctor (Tech Strategy – Podcast 132)
This discussion centers on the innovative digital business models developed by Walgreens and Ping An Good Doctor in the healthcare sector. These industry leaders have embraced digital transformation to establish new, compelling business models, each unique in its approach. The analysis will delve into three key areas: the economies of scale and scope, digital superpowers that lend competitive advantage, and the role of AI as a capability and potential learning platform.
Ping An Good Doctor Has a Sweeping but Difficult Platform Strategy (Tech Strategy – Daily Article)
Ping An is the quiet digital giant of China. It began as an insurance company. Then it added a wealth management company. Then it added a bank. And now it is focusing on healthcare. And, along the way, it became a full tech company. It’s right up there with Alibaba, ByteDance and the others. I […]
Two Big Questions About SenseTime and AI Software Business Models (Asia Tech Strategy – Podcast 114)
In this podcast, Jeffrey Towson discusses two big questions about the business models of AI software companies: What are the unit economics of large AI companies? What types of scale advantages and network effects do large AI companies have? He argues that AI software companies are still in the early stages of development, and that the answers to these questions will depend on how the market for AI software evolves in the years to come.
An Intro to Zhihu (ZH), the Small Giant of Learning Platforms (Tech Strategy – Daily Article)
I recently wrote about Baidu as an example of learning platforms (one of my five platform types). Located here, I said: “My definition for learning platforms has 4 key points: The primary purpose of the platform is to enable interactions between user groups within a greater ecosystem. It is, first and foremost, a platform business […]
Baidu Is Externalizing and Exploiting AI. But It’s All About Cloud. (3 of 3) (Tech Strategy – Daily Article)
In Part 1 and Part 2, I laid out Baidu’s core search engine and some of the complexities that have evolved in search over time. I have three strategy questions for Baidu going forward: How competitive will a stand-alone search engine be against China’s larger digital giants over time? Can Baidu create a second large […]
Can Baidu Thrive As a Stand-Alone Search Engine? (Tech Strategy – Podcast 76)
In this podcast, Jeffrey Towson discusses Baidu’s key strategic questions, including its best growth opportunity, whether it needed to go into content, and how it can compete in the attention market. He argues that Baidu’s best growth opportunity is in the cloud, but that it needs to be careful not to overextend itself. He also believes that Baidu needs to focus on its core search business and not get distracted by other ventures.