Zhang Chaoyong admits Sohu missed the mobile internet era: Large models require resources we can't compete on; don't let AI dictate everything.

At the 2026 World Internet Conference in Wuzhen, Sohu founder Zhang Chaoyong admitted he 'missed the mobile internet era.' He stated that building large models requires significant resources that Sohu cannot afford, which has made his approach to AI investment more measured. He emphasized not letting AI drive all decisions, noting that profit opportunities often lie where attention is low and that product design should not blindly chase algorithmic recommendations.