This decision is also hard to make because when you are a backend technology provider, it's like selling a piece of commodity.

之所以这是一个困难的决定还因为,当作为后台技术提供商时，就像出售一件商品似的。

斯坦福公开课 - 百度CEO李彦宏演讲：全球最大搜索引擎的发展课程节选

So in the summer of 2001, we decided to switch gear from a backend technology provider to a front-end consumer-oriented search service.

于是在2001年夏，公司决定从后台技术提供者,转变为直接面向消费者的搜索服务提供方。

斯坦福公开课 - 百度CEO李彦宏演讲：全球最大搜索引擎的发展课程节选

We didn't have a feasible business model, let's put it this way, because when we started, the business model is to provide the backend search technology to the portal companies in China.

或者说没有一个，可行的商业模式，因为公司成立初期的商业模式，是给门户网站公司,提供后台搜索技术。

斯坦福公开课 - 百度CEO李彦宏演讲：全球最大搜索引擎的发展课程节选

Internet industry was in a very difficult time at that time, at that period, and we gradually realized that this company cannot really survive if we stick with the backend technology providers thing.

当时互联网行业正处于困境，如果坚持做后台搜索技术提供商,这个公司将无法生存。

斯坦福公开课 - 百度CEO李彦宏演讲：全球最大搜索引擎的发展课程节选