WSJ Tech News Briefing – TNB Tech Minute: Baidu Reports Lower Revenue Amid Weak Ad Business

Date: August 20, 2025
Host: Julie Chang

Overview

In this concise tech news roundup, Julie Chang covers three main stories shaping the technology landscape: Baidu’s downturn in advertising revenue and the offsetting strength of its AI cloud business, General Motors' aggressive push into artificial intelligence talent, and the growing international ambitions of U.S. battery startups as clean tech faces challenges domestically.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Baidu’s Earnings Report and AI Strategy

[00:16–00:38]

• Revenue Decline: Baidu, the Chinese search engine giant, reported a second-quarter revenue drop of 3.6% year-over-year, totaling 32.71 billion yuan ($4.55 billion).
• Ad Business Weakness: The main cause cited is a weaker performance in the company’s core online advertising segment.
• Better-than-Expected Profit: Despite lower revenue, profits surpassed expectations.
• AI Cloud Mitigates Downturn:
  • Julie Chang explained that Baidu’s CEO credits the company’s AI cloud operations for offsetting the downturn in advertising:

    “Baidu's CEO said the company's AI cloud business helped mitigate the near term pressure on its online marketing business.” (Julie Chang, 00:32)

2. General Motors’ AI Hiring Spree

[00:38–00:55]

• Building a ‘Small but Mighty’ AI Team: GM is recruiting aggressively, focusing on artificial intelligence talent, including nearly a dozen new hires from major tech companies (Google, Meta, AWS) in the past eight months.
• AI Across the Organization:
  • Julie notes the wide mandate of GM's new team:

    “Its goal? To build a small but mighty AI team that'll assist the organization everywhere from factory production lines to the NASCAR racetrack, as well as help individual groups build AI workforces.” (Julie Chang, 00:50)

• Implications: This move signals the automaker’s ambition to use AI not just in manufacturing but throughout its operations.

3. US Battery Companies Look Abroad

[00:55–01:36]

• Exclusive Report on Manufacturing Shift:
  • Julie reveals, "US Battery companies are increasingly looking overseas for new manufacturing opportunities.” (Julie Chang, 00:57)
• Case Study - Group 14:
  • Seattle-based Group 14 closed a $463 million funding round, led by South Korea’s SK.
  • As a result, Group 14 gains full control of silicon battery material manufacturing in South Korea, up from a previous 25% joint venture stake.
• Why Abroad?
  • The move coincides with a decline in U.S. support for clean tech.

  • “This comes at a time when support for clean tech wanes in the country...” (Julie Chang, 01:34)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Baidu’s Strategy:

  “Baidu's CEO said the company's AI cloud business helped mitigate the near term pressure on its online marketing business.”
  (Julie Chang, 00:32)

• On GM’s Ambitions:

  “Its goal? To build a small but mighty AI team that'll assist the organization everywhere from factory production lines to the NASCAR racetrack, as well as help individual groups build AI workforces.”
  (Julie Chang, 00:50)

• On U.S. Battery Company Moves:

  “US Battery companies are increasingly looking overseas for new manufacturing opportunities.”
  (Julie Chang, 00:57)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:16] Baidu earnings – Revenue decline, AI cloud growth
• [00:38] GM’s hiring spree and new AI team initiatives
• [00:55] US battery makers expand manufacturing overseas, Group 14’s South Korea deal

Tone

Julie Chang delivers the news in a brisk, informative, and professional tone, aiming for clarity and conciseness while still providing key context on each story.

This summary omits ad spots and credits, focusing solely on the main tech news content as presented.