Baidu kicks off biggest layoffs in years as it bets big on AI
Baidu, China's leading search engine, is letting go of a large number of employees—its largest round of layoffs in recent years—after posting a huge Q3 loss of $1.59 billion.
The cuts, which started in late November and will run through year-end, hit several business units hard, especially the mobile ecosystem group where some teams are shrinking by up to 40%.
What's happening with jobs and pay?
Baidu's workforce dropped nearly 10% last year to about 35,900 people.
While many roles are being cut, jobs in AI and cloud computing are mostly safe as Baidu shifts its focus toward tech-driven growth.
The numbers behind Baidu's big pivot
Online ad revenue fell 18% last quarter and total revenue slipped by 7%.
But here's the twist: Baidu's AI-related revenue jumped 50%, showing just how much the company is doubling down on artificial intelligence—even if it means tough changes now.
Fun fact: From search giant to AI powerhouse
Baidu isn't just about search anymore—it was one of the first major Chinese tech firms to launch its own generative AI chatbot (Ernie Bot), joining the global race with tools like ChatGPT.