In an interview with LatePost, CEO of Zero One All Things, Li Kaifu, addressed recent rumors about the company’s financial strain and potential acquisition by Alibaba. Li clarified that Zero One has established a “Joint Industry Grand Model Lab” with Alibaba Cloud, with some teams integrating into Alibaba, but the company is not seeking to be acquired. Zero One will shift its focus from pursuing super-large models to concentrating on faster, more cost-effective ones, leveraging these to create profitable applications.
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About Company Adjustments
Li explained that since May last year, Zero One had recognized that only large corporations could continue to develop super-large models. Instead, Zero One will focus on building faster, more affordable models. Given China’s semiconductor constraints and significantly lower funding and valuations compared to U.S. companies, Li believes it’s impractical to chase after super-large models.
About the AGI Dream
Although Zero One is no longer pursuing AGI, Li emphasized that this does not signify the end of the dream. He compared the current phase to Microsoft’s first product, underlining the importance of starting with practical applications and keeping feet on the ground.
About Industry Trends
Li stated that the era of super-large models has arrived, but only big players can sustain in this game. With Scaling Law slowing down and the era of commercial淘汰 upon us, he predicts that 2025 will be a year of both application explosions and commercial shakeouts.
About Zero One’s Future
Li revealed that Zero One is seeking PMF in the B2B sector and has made strides in several vertical industries. He forecasts that the company’s revenue will multiply by several times in 2025.
About China’s Large Model Startups
Li is confident that China’s large model startups won’t vanish altogether; each will find its path. He envisions that in three years, no one will be referred to as a large model company, but rather as a company specializing in a specific application.
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Li Kaifu, CEO of Zero One All Things, dismissed rumors of acquisition by Alibaba, stating the company’s collaboration with Alibaba Cloud in a joint lab. Zero One will now concentrate on rapid, cost-efficient models for application development. Li acknowledged the shift in strategy since last year, focusing on practical applications as the era of super-large models arrives, dominated by large corporations. He anticipates Zero One’s revenue surge in 2025 and believes Chinese startups will navigate their niche successfully.
