Recently, 360 issued a blockbuster announcement that the company's controlling shareholder Qixin Zhicheng Technology Co., Ltd. will be dissolved and liquidated, and 46.14% of the shares held by it will be distributed to shareholders through non-transaction transfer. This move has attracted wide attention in the industry, which not only marks a major adjustment of 360's corporate governance structure, but also indicates a strategic change in the company's future development direction.
After this equity change, the direct shareholding ratio of Zhou Hongyi, the founder of 360, increased from 5.24% to 13.26%, becoming the company's largest shareholder. It is worth noting that Zhou Hongyi promised not to reduce his holdings of 360 shares within 12 months during the dissolution and liquidation of Qixin Zhicheng, demonstrating his firm confidence in the company's development.
Looking back at the original intention of the establishment of Qixin Zhicheng, it is not difficult for us to find that this is a strategic capital operation. In 2016, in order to help 360 Company delist from the U.S. stock market, 36 investors jointly invested and loaned 20 billion yuan to establish Qixin Zhicheng as a "shareholding platform". Now, with the loan fully repaid and Qixin Zhicheng has completed its historical mission, it has become an inevitable choice for the company to return to a more concise and efficient governance structure.
It is worth noting that this equity change is not a simple capital game. The announcement clearly pointed out that the shareholders of Qixin Zhicheng need to jointly abide by the relevant provisions of laws and regulations on the reduction quota and pre-disclosure of major shareholders. This measure not only protects the interests of small and medium-sized investors, but also reflects 360's respect for the standardized operation of the capital market.
At the same time, Zhou Hongyi's remarks at the 12th Internet Security Conference in ISC.AI 2024 outlined a clear blueprint for the future development of 360. He announced that users who purchase 360 standard products will be provided with large model standard capabilities for free, which will undoubtedly greatly promote the popularization and application of AI technology in the field of security.
Zhou Hongyi put forward the concept of "treating demons with models", emphasizing that large models must be used to solve the safety problems brought by large models. This view hits the nail on the head and reveals future trends in the field of cybersecurity. In today's rapid development of AI technology, traditional security thinking is no longer able to cope with emerging threats, and only by countering innovation can we remain invincible in the wrestle of digital security.
360's equity change and strategic adjustment can be said to be timely. At present, large-scale model technology is triggering a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, and major technology giants have laid out one after another, and the competition is becoming increasingly fierce. In this war without gunpowder, 360 chose to shift its focus to the field of AI security, which is undoubtedly a far-sighted chess piece.
However, there are both opportunities and challenges. How to stand out in the fierce market competition, how to balance technological innovation and commercial interests, and how to promote the popularization and application of AI technology while ensuring user safety are all difficult problems in front of 360. We expect that under the helm of Zhou Hongyi, 360 will be able to cleave the waves in this blue ocean full of opportunities and challenges, and create a new world of its own.
In this era of the Internet of Everything, security has become the cornerstone of the digital world. The transformation of 360 is not only related to the rise and fall of an enterprise, but also shoulders the important task of promoting the development of the entire industry and ensuring the country's cybersecurity. Let us all hope that at the intersection of AI and security, 360 can shine more brightly and contribute to the construction of a safe and trustworthy digital world.