Google Releases Gemini: What Lessons Can Domestic AI Companies Learn?
-
Some issues only become clear through comparison.
Take Google's newly released large model product, which outperforms GPT in both performance and comprehensive capabilities. When you examine Baidu's large model strategy in this context, two major problems become apparent: First, they acted too hastily—rushing to launch products at the first sign of a trend earlier this year, raising suspicions of bandwagon-jumping and stock price manipulation. Second, if your released product doesn't decisively surpass existing market offerings, it risks being labeled as derivative.
In contrast, Google's strategy demonstrates restraint—they didn't rush to release during the AI model frenzy, merely hinting at their intention to compete head-on with OpenAI. After nearly a year of development, they unveiled a product capable of surpassing competitors.
Truly a case of 'silent until earth-shaking.'
Apple seems to follow this logic too, most typically in creating immersive products. When VR was all the rage, Apple remained silent, quietly hiring people and filing patents; when AR became popular, Apple still made no noise, continuing to recruit secretly and file patents; when the metaverse trend emerged, Apple again stayed quiet, still hiring covertly and applying for patents. Just when everyone suddenly forgot about these trends, it abruptly launched Apple Vision, ushering in the era of spatial internet.
Similarly, Apple's car strategy follows this pattern—rumors have persisted, but nothing has been released yet. Why? Because Apple knows very well that launching a product that isn't relatively stunning could easily damage its reputation.
In contrast, Chinese internet companies like Baidu, Alibaba, and 360 appear very impatient and restless, chasing whatever is trending. It feels like they're making moves just for the sake of it, which actually reflects a lack of confidence.
In recent years, Tencent has been relatively composed. Whenever a trend emerges, Tencent might make a few public statements, and internal teams may explore related products. However, it remains low-key—at most, doing some PR at a conference—without deliberately following trends, showing a level of restraint.
Of course, this may also be related to Tencent's pragmatic approach, as they clearly understand that temporarily boosting stock prices has little impact on actual value. Ultimately, it is determined by products that can be implemented and recognized by the market.
These days, the entire internet is buzzing about how Apple compared to Chinese internet companies years ago and how it stands now. Why is the valuation of one company equivalent to most of ours combined?
Where does the problem lie?
Certainly, part of the reason is related to changes in the domestic internet environment.
But one thing is clear: from the perspective of value investing, whether it's Apple or Google, you'll find that mature internet brands place great emphasis on brand reputation and avoid making rash decisions. Once a decision is made, they care deeply about product reputation, ensuring internal performance is solid before releasing anything.
Google's latest release of the large language model product Gemini has received explosive praise—and for good reason. It has truly achieved a level that can compete with its rivals, even surpassing them overall in many aspects.
The market is ruthless. After ChatGPT became a star product, if you enter the arena with a subpar offering, you'll easily be seen as just a supporting act. But if your product can outperform the competition, you have a chance to become the industry's true standout, deeply embedding your value in consumers' minds.
Tang Jun, the former 'Emperor of Employees,' once made a brilliant statement: What is innovation? Innovation is thinking of something others haven't; achieving what others have thought of; and doing it better when others have already done it.
The idea behind ChatGPT was something many had considered, but OpenAI was the one to bring it to life. Now, as major companies worldwide rush to follow suit, they face a critical question: Can they do it better? Can they surpass GPT?
If not, your presence will merely serve as a backdrop—a perfunctory attempt at keeping up with the trend.
If you're one of those 'green onion' companies in the A-share market that jumps on every trend to announce big model deployments, boost stock prices, and then cash out, that's understandable. But the problem is, if you aspire to be a representative enterprise in China, then certainty and reputation become crucial at this stage.
You can't be seen hopping on every bandwagon. People might overlook it once or twice, but if this happens every year, everyone will understand. Your market reputation will then be labeled as 'unreliable.'
Running a business is like being a person. It's acceptable to explore different paths during the early stages, but if you keep frequently changing directions after maturing, it gives people an impression of restlessness. That's when the industry might start calling you a 'shell company' - a label that's indeed hard to shake off once applied.