Baidu predicts AI agents will scale by 2026, gives employees $140 monthly for AI tools

Baidu's executive vice president Shen Dou predicts that general and industry-specific AI agents will see mass adoption by the second half of 2026. He says the next three years are a critical window for AI companies to build full-stack advantages. Shen emphasizes AI will assist 90% of jobs, not replace them. Baidu doesn't force employees to use AI; instead, it gives each worker a monthly credit of 1,000 yuan ($140) to try popular AI models freely. In Q1 2026, Baidu's AI revenue rose 49% year-over-year, making up 52% of total revenue—the first time it surpassed half. Baidu founder Robin Li proposed using 'Daily Active Agents' (DAA) as a metric for the AI era, rather than token consumption, focusing on value delivered by agents.