Baidu’s Q3 Earnings Preview: AI Progress vs. Advertising Weakness
Baidu's third-quarter results, due November 18, will reveal the tension between its advancing AI initiatives and struggling Core advertising business. The Apollo Go autonomous ride-hailing platform and Ernie Model 5.0 demonstrate technological ambition, but Wall Street anticipates a 9.5% revenue decline to $4.33 billion.
Investors punished the stock after its latest AI model failed to impress, triggering an 11% drop. Yet Baidu shares remain up 38% year-to-date, reflecting China's strategic positioning in the global AI race. The earnings report will test whether infrastructure investments can offset macroeconomic headwinds.