When “Baidu” is no longer just for “knowing”, the meaning of search is also quietly changing. From information retrieval tools to complex task delivery, Baidu is reshaping the search experience for users. What kind of product logic and strategic intention is hidden behind this search revision? This article will dismantle the evolution direction of Baidu search from multiple dimensions such as product form, user path, and AI drive, and discuss how it has shifted from an “answer provider” to a “decision booster”.
In the early days of the Internet, when I first entered keywords into the search box, I felt a sense of novelty: I could quickly obtain information with just a few words. Later, with the explosion of content on the Internet, search added another layer of value: helping us sift through useful answers from a large amount of content.
Now, AI is beginning to permeate our daily work and life, and our expectations of search are changing: not just “finding” answers, but hoping that it can directly “do” more.
In this context, around the changes in user needs, Baidu released it at AI DAY on July 2 this yearThe biggest revision in almost a decade.I spent some time experiencing the new version of Baidu Search, and I will share with you the main changes of this revision and my experience.
Search Entry: No longer a simple input box
The first change you notice is the search box itself.
It has changed from the original single-line text box to a larger input area, which not only supports text search, but also supports direct input of files, pictures, voice, and other content. Below the search box, AI tools such as AI writing and AI drawing are also integrated, making it more like a unified “super entrance” as a whole.
In the actual experience, especially when you need to input long text, this more spacious input area will indeed be more intuitive than before, and it will be easier to view and modify the content, and the new form will have a better experience when dealing with complex problems.
Generative AI Camera: Take a picture and get the answer directly
In terms of input methods, in addition to the change in the search box, the “generative AI camera” capability has also significantly improved the image search experience.
In the past, the photo search was only done with “image recognition search”, and the understanding ability of user needs was not enough, and we needed to add text to supplement the description, but now based on Baidu’s latest “generative AI camera” capabilities, it can be realizedJust take a photo, and the system can intelligently analyze the requirements, generate answers or complete operations。
For example, when I am traveling, I pick up my mobile phone to take pictures of scenic spots, and it will automatically generate a “tour guide” style introduction to the attractions, and it also supports voice broadcasting, which can be listened to while playing, easily replacing the scenic spot explainers in traditional scenic spots:
From experience, this abilityIt is very friendly to many instant search scenarios,The use process is much more efficient, and the overall effect of “completing a search with one picture” has been achieved.
Search results: Integrate content and services all at once
When the input side becomes freer and more efficient, Baidu search has undergone equally important changes on the output side.
In the past, the logic of search engines was more about the function of “indexing”: after entering keywords, we returned a set of links, then judged, filtered, and then jumped to each page to find answers, and finally organized content, recreated or applied.
In the face of complex problems, this method seems inefficient and does not meet the final needs of users.
For example, when I search for “how to file an individual tax return”, the end point of meeting the needs is not only to get the relevant links to consult, but to get the latest and most complete individual tax declaration guide, and even directly complete the individual income tax declaration.
How to better meet the needs of users?
The new version of Baidu Search gives the answer:Baikan,It can makeMultimodal content, AI agents, and human servicesCarry out organic integration and give users oneRich media structured content effectively reduces user judgment and operation costs。
When I search for the “Individual Income Tax Declaration Guide”, it will summarize the content of the whole network, integrate the declaration process, time nodes, material preparation requirements, and related teaching videos into one answer to meet my needs at one time:
This centralized display does reduce the cost of judgment and screening, especially when encountering complex queries with multiple steps, which saves a lot of time compared to traditional models. For example, when I search for “how to practice speaking English”, I not only get a guide and tutorial video, but also directly call an AI sparring partner or a real teacher with one click. This model of combining information and services makes search no longer just a transit point for answers, but more like a delivery center that can deliver the final result directly to us.
Content creation: From collecting information to one-click generation
During the experience, I found that there are two capabilities, especially for content creators, that are very different from previous search experiences.
In the past, if you wanted to make a short video, you usually needed to first look up information in search engines, and then write the script, shoot, and edit yourself, and the whole process often took hours or even days. Search is just a tool in this process to help obtain information, to look up information, to check writing skills, or to compare cases.
Now, Baidu integrates AI creation capabilities directly into search.
With intelligent creation capabilities, you only need to enter a sentence to generate a 3-minute video clip. Compared with many tools that can only generate a few seconds of footage, the generation time of Baidu search is closer to the needs of current short video platforms. At the same time, users can edit the generated content twice and then publish it to mainstream video platforms with one click.
In addition to the ability of Wensheng video and graphics, if you want to directly generate dynamic videos from existing images, you can also use itPicture Imaginationto realize.
Behind Huixian is Baidu’s self-developed video generation modelMuse SteamerThis is the world’s first video model that supports the integrated generation of Chinese audio and video. At present, the turbo version of Muse Steamer has been launched on the AI video creation platform “Huiang”, and is open for free public beta for a limited time, allowing users to directly experience the complete process from a picture to the finished video.
From search engines to AI ecosystems
In this revision, the point that touched me the most was Baidu SearchChanges in role positioning。
It is no longer just a search engine, but gradually evolving into oneOpen AI ecological entrance。
At the model level, Baidu not only integrates the self-developed Wenxin large model and the Picture Picture Raw Video Model, but also actively accesses excellent models in the industry, including DeepSeek. For users, this means that the generation and reasoning capabilities behind search are no longer a single source but are closer to “multi-model collaboration”, improving the richness and accuracy of responses.
At the application level, this “ecology” is more directly reflected. Baidu Open Platform is includedMore than 1. 80,000 MCP services, covering multiple vertical scenarios such as life, finance, and e-commerce, such as weather, network disk, and MCP Server such as two-dimensional.
For users, there is a very intuitive change in this experience:Many operations that originally had to be completed by jumping to the APP or mini program can now be closed in the search.This was difficult to achieve in the previous search experience.
For MCP and AI applications that access the platform, Baidu providesZero-threshold access methods and distribution channels,It allows ecological partners to obtain the most accurate traffic for free through search, directly reach user needs, increase exposure and bring real business benefits.
In this new AI ecosystem,The path between search and service is rapidly shrinking。 When all AI capabilities and third-party tools are opened up in search, the user’s demand path will become extremely short, and it will be closer to the ideal state of “use and take”.
Conclusion: In the era of AI, search has been redefined
After experiencing this revision, I can feel a clear change: with the blessing of AI, search is no longer just a tool for retrieving answers, but has begun to try to become oneAn entrance that can really help users get things done。
For content creators, videos that used to need to repeatedly search for materials, write scripts, and shoot clips can now be generated directly with a single sentence; For ordinary users, learning a skill and querying a service no longer rely on themselves to rummage around, but can complete the acquisition of information, tools, and services in the same interface.
Behind this is a trend: when information and services become more and more abundant, users’ demand for “more efficient and direct” continues to grow, in the face of this trend, Baidu Search has completed the transition from information retrieval to content generation and task delivery, and is gradually becoming the center of connecting AI capabilities.
Baidu is still the beginning of getting answers, but now, in addition to letting me know, it can also help me do it, which may be what search should look like in the AI era.
