Tencent's Senior Executive Vice President and CEO of the Cloud and Smart Industry Business Group, Tang Daosheng, published an article in the internal publication "Zhidian" annual edition on the evening of August 25, openly stating that this response was co-created with AI. He actively addressed the external evaluation that "Tencent is slow in AI," believing that AI has evolved from a mere execution tool into a collaborative partner for thinking.
The Anxiety of "A Leaking Boat" and Long-Term Orientation
Tang Daosheng admitted that competitors have been making significant noise in the ToB market, and insufficient computing power has hindered the iteration and product deployment of the Huan Yuan large model, leading to internal anxiety. However, he believes that the AI competition is not a sprint but a marathon. The industry is still in its early stages, and the market structure and business models are not yet fixed. It is more important to last longer than to start earlier.
Whether one can make long-term investments and grasp real scenario needs is key to riding out the cycle. He pointed out that the industry should not focus only on the large model itself. Algorithms determine the upper limit, engineering capabilities determine the speed of implementation, and scenarios are Tencent's core advantage. During the transformation, two points remain unchanged: long-term orientation and people-centered approach.
This statement aligns with Ma Huateng's previous remarks. At the May shareholders' meeting, Ma Huateng said that Tencent's early AI basic capabilities were not prominent, and it was only through talent building and management improvements in recent years that it gradually got on track. He humorously said, "I thought I had boarded the ship a year ago, but later found out the boat was leaking. Now I feel I have stepped on it but can't sit comfortably." However, he insisted on steadily advancing by leveraging his own strengths and not blindly competing for territory.
As early as the June Tencent Cloud AI Industrial Application Conference, Tang Daosheng had openly accepted the criticism that "Tencent is slow," admitting that within the complex organization, different business lines have varying speeds, and there have been failures and explorations. From the consecutive statements by executives, it is clear that Tencent is redefining "slow" as patience—betting on the long term rather than rushing ahead, under the dual constraints of computing power and scenarios.
