Cheetah Mobile

Cheetah Mobile Inc. is a Chinese mobile internet company headquartered in Beijing, China. Founded in 2010 by Fu Sheng and other co-founders, the company initially gained prominence through its popular mobile utility applications, most notably Clean Master, a smartphone cleaning and optimization tool that amassed over a billion downloads worldwide. Cheetah Mobile went public on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker CMCM in May 2014, raising approximately $168 million in its initial public offering. The company expanded its product portfolio to include a range of apps such as Cheetah Keyboard, Security Master, and CM Launcher, targeting Android users globally. However, the company faced challenges including allegations from security researchers about deceptive advertising practices and data misuse, which led to a decline in user trust and stock price. In 2020, the company announced a strategic shift towards artificial intelligence and robotics, launching products like the OrionStar series of service robots and AI-enabled solutions for enterprise clients. In April 2021, Cheetah Mobile completed a privatization agreement, delisting from the NYSE and becoming a privately held company. The domain cheetahmobile.com serves as the official corporate website, though direct automated access is not available, possibly due to IP restrictions or server configuration. The domain is registered since 2011 and uses Chinese DNS infrastructure (DNSPod), reflecting its domestic focus. Despite its turbulent history, the company maintains a presence in the AI and robotics sector, targeting industries such as healthcare, retail, and hospitality. Cheetah Mobile's journey from a mobile utility giant to an AI/robotics firm illustrates the volatile nature of the tech industry and the challenges of pivoting business models amidst regulatory and competitive pressures.