Baidu's Robin Li on why surging token spend isn't translating into profits: companies replaced the motor without redesigning the factory
Baidu_Inc · x · 2026-11-12
Baidu's official account shared Robin Li's take on AI monetization: token spending keeps climbing, but revenue and profits aren't keeping pace. His explanation: companies have swapped in the motor without redesigning the factory.
Framing AI as the new electricity, Li argues the 'intelligent organization' is the AI era's factory — productivity gains come from redesigning work around AI, embedding agents in sales, customer service, R&D and operations. Replacing the motor is the starting point; redesigning the factory is the turning point.
Related event: Baidu's Li Yanhong on AI Monetization Gap as Internal Agents Surge 600%(2 posts)→
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