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Tencent's AI 'Slowness' Defended: It's a Marathon, Not a Sprint

In a candid internal post published on August 25, Tencent's Senior Executive Vice President and CEO of the Cloud and Smart Industry Business Group, Tang Daosheng, directly addressed the long-standing criticism that Tencent is slow in AI. The post, co-created with AI, was featured in the annual edition of Tencent's internal publication 'Zhidian.'

Tang didn't shy away from the elephant in the room. He admitted that competitors have been making a lot of noise in the enterprise tech market, and that insufficient computing power has indeed slowed the iteration and deployment of Tencent's Hunyuan large model. This has caused anxiety within the company. But he quickly reframed the narrative: AI competition is not a sprint; it's a marathon. The industry is still in its early days, and the market structure and business models are far from settled. In his view, lasting longer matters more than starting earlier.

So what does it take to stay the course? Tang believes the key is the ability to make long-term investments and truly grasp real-world scenario needs. He cautioned against fixating solely on the large model itself. Algorithms set the upper limit, engineering capabilities determine how quickly ideas become reality, and scenarios—where Tencent has a distinct advantage—are the real battleground. Amid this transformation, two principles remain unchanged: a long-term orientation and a people-centered approach.

This isn't the first time Tencent's leadership has addressed the 'slow' label. At the May shareholders' meeting, CEO Ma Huateng offered a memorable metaphor: 'I thought I had boarded the ship a year ago, but later found out the boat was leaking. Now I feel I have stepped on it but can't sit comfortably.' He stressed the importance of steadily advancing by leveraging Tencent's own strengths, rather than blindly competing for territory.

Tang had also previously acknowledged the criticism at the June Tencent Cloud AI Industrial Application Conference, admitting that within a complex organization, different business lines move at different speeds, and there have been failures and explorations along the way.

These consecutive statements paint a clear picture: Tencent is redefining 'slow' as patience. Under the dual constraints of computing power and scenario development, the company is betting on the long term rather than rushing ahead. It's a calculated strategy, one that prioritizes sustainability over speed.

Key Points

  • Tang Daosheng's internal post responds to criticism of Tencent's AI pace, framing it as a marathon.
  • He acknowledges internal anxiety over competitors' progress and computing power constraints.
  • The strategy emphasizes long-term investment and scenario advantages over speed.
  • CEO Ma Huateng's 'leaking boat' metaphor reinforces the patient, steady approach.