Shuidi Shenpeng releases the 2026 Spring Festival letter: Achieving the leap from "using AI tools" to "AI-native company"

February 24, 2026

Waterdrop Founder and CEO Shen Peng Releases Spring Festival Letter for 2026

Reflecting on the past year’s development and sharing future strategies, Shen Peng emphasizes that AI large models are becoming accessible infrastructure for everyone, and aims to internalize AI capabilities as core competitive advantages for every Waterdrop team member. On the occasion of the company’s 10th anniversary, he encourages employees to uphold craftsmanship spirit and strive toward the new vision of “becoming a globally leading, technology-driven financial and healthcare service platform to help create a better life.”

Shen Peng states: “As a Chinese tech entrepreneur, I am both proud and inspired. Proud of China’s steady breakthroughs and rising momentum in technology, and inspired by the endless possibilities AI waves open for industry innovation.” Over the past year, Waterdrop has steadfastly advanced its “All in AI” strategy, driven by the “Waterdrop Water Guard Large Model,” resulting in growth in revenue and profit. The AI-powered customer service “Bao Xiao Hui” has achieved immersive “talk and act” services, with voice response times averaging only 1.5 seconds; AI digital employee “Bang Bang” has completed over 10,000 claim interpretation tasks, with claim prediction accuracy exceeding 90%; and the online broker system has been upgraded to build a new ecosystem of professional, digital, user-centric services.

Waterdrop’s social value has also gained high recognition from the state and the public. Waterdrop Fundraising was designated by the Ministry of Civil Affairs as a personal aid platform, helping 3.61 million patients with serious illnesses and raising 71.2 billion yuan in donations. Meanwhile, Yifan Medicine has made breakthroughs in clinical trials, independently developing patented patient matching technology to accelerate new drug R&D.

2026 marks Waterdrop’s tenth year of entrepreneurship. Moving forward, the company will focus on AI as its core, transitioning from “using AI tools” to “being an AI-native company,” deeply integrating AI into customer acquisition, risk control, underwriting, claims, and service, achieving full-chain intelligent digital transformation. Additionally, Waterdrop will continue to uphold entrepreneurial spirit, accelerate international expansion with meticulous craftsmanship, deeply understand local market pain points, and build localized teams and service systems to adapt its technology and services to the diverse needs of families worldwide.

Below is the full message to all staff:

Dear Waterdrop Team,

Happy New Year!

Spring has returned, and a new beginning is underway. On this Year of the Horse, I extend my deepest wishes to every partner.

The recently concluded Spring Festival was joyful with family reunions, and I believe everyone also felt the surging tide of AI. From DeepSeek’s emergence last year to today, AI has deeply permeated every aspect of life: ordering a milk tea, receiving a red envelope, asking health advice, or handling work documents—artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a standard part of our daily lives and work, far beyond imagination.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang stated at the Davos Forum earlier this year: “AI is electricity, roads, the underlying operating system of the next civilization.” An intelligent revolution we are destined to experience is no longer distant but happening now. China’s AI is no longer “a lone brave venturing into dark alleys,” but “a boat passing through ten thousand mountains.” As a Chinese tech entrepreneur, I am both proud and invigorated—proud of China’s steady breakthroughs and rising momentum, and inspired by the infinite potential AI waves bring to industry innovation.

The ultimate value of technology lies in its implementation. Undoubtedly, AI large models are reshaping industry chains and value chains with disruptive power. As participants in this AI wave, over the past year we have firmly advanced the “All in AI” strategy, allowing AI large models to take root and flourish in insurance and healthcare. In this unpredictable world driven by technological revolutions, Waterdrop’s answer remains unchanged: using the goodness of technology to safeguard hundreds of millions of families.

Forging “certainty” through cycles in uncertainty

In 2025, the external environment remained challenging, yet we delivered results far beyond expectations.

Our core business demonstrated strong resilience amid cycles. Since going public, we have achieved 15 consecutive profitable quarters, indicating stable profitability over a long period, sound operations, and the ability to generate continuous profits without relying on one-time gains or financial manipulations.

Behind revenue and profit growth is ongoing optimization of our business model and solid organizational capabilities. This year, we officially launched a dual-headquarters model based in Beijing and the Greater Bay Area, completing the integration of the DeepBlue Insurance team. Two teams with the same original intention working side by side have widened and deepened our competitive moat in health insurance; our strategic layout combines a strong local foundation with a global outlook.

Our AI technology capabilities have shifted from “strategic layout” to “growth engine.” Last year’s “All in AI” was not about chasing trends but about making technology a “new productive force” for Waterdrop. Driven by the Waterdrop Water Guard Large Model, we saw “KEYI.AI” significantly boost underwriting efficiency, and “Bao Xiao Hui” providing 24/7 customer service. The AI tide is surging, industry momentum is accelerating, and industry development is advancing rapidly. From internal efficiency to user service, from domestic focus to global vision, our AI capabilities have taken a solid step forward, validating the “technology-driven” potential on a global scale.

Our social value has also received high recognition from the country and the public. Waterdrop Fundraising was designated by the Ministry of Civil Affairs as a personal aid platform, a heavy trust that honors our original mission. Since launch, Waterdrop Fundraising has helped 3.61 million patients with serious illnesses and gathered 71.2 billion yuan in donations. Meanwhile, Yifan Medicine has made breakthroughs in clinical trials, independently developing patented patient matching technology to accelerate new drug development, deepening our healthcare ecosystem.

These achievements belong to every Waterdrop person who works tirelessly. Thank you all—whether in Beijing, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, or frontline battlefields—for demonstrating what “Waterdrop Spirit” truly means.

Focusing on AI as the core, heading toward the next “ten years”

Small efforts lead to great results; gathering drops into an ocean. This year marks Waterdrop’s tenth anniversary. We are undoubtedly in the best era. Standing at this new starting point, you may ask: where are we headed next?

First, from “AI tools” to “AI native,” we will overhaul our organizational DNA. Peter Drucker once said in “Innovation and Entrepreneurship” that the significance of innovation lies not in how advanced the technology is but in whether it can create new value for resources. This is especially relevant in today’s AI era. As AI large models become accessible infrastructure for everyone, they empower us to change the world.

By 2026, we aim to complete the leap from “using AI tools” to “being an AI-native company,” deeply embedding AI into every aspect of customer acquisition, risk control, underwriting, claims, and service, achieving full-chain intelligent digital transformation. This means internalizing AI capabilities as core competitive advantages for every Waterdrop team member. In the future, it will be less about “whether to use AI” and more about “who can create greater value with AI.”

Second, from “internationalization attempts” to “deep local cultivation,” we will practice our new vision. Last year, we clarified our vision: “becoming a globally leading, technology-driven financial and healthcare service platform to help create a better life.” “Global leadership” is not just a slogan but a concrete goal. Pilot projects in the US, Hong Kong, and other regions have made us realize: internationalization is not simply copying business models but building deep local capabilities. This requires courage to “go out,” patience to “plant roots,” understanding local user pain points, and establishing localized teams and services so that Waterdrop’s technology and services meet the diverse needs of families worldwide.

Third, uphold craftsmanship spirit to strengthen the “ballast” for cycling through cycles. Markets change, technologies evolve, but the original “user first” and “meticulous craftsmanship” spirit remain unchanged. This is the foundation of Waterdrop’s ten-year journey and the logic behind overcoming countless storms. Moving forward, we must maintain “entrepreneurial spirit”—staying close to real user needs, persevering in “pushing through to the end,” and never giving up.

Watching this year’s Spring Festival Gala, the display of cutting-edge technological capabilities was impressive, perhaps signaling a big year for tech. This expectation aligns with the national strategy of “Artificial Intelligence+,” where only products and services with significant impact on national livelihood can go further. We are already on the right path.

In ten years of entrepreneurship, we have journeyed from muddy beginnings to today’s rapid digital intelligence. It’s a marathon testing not only speed but also direction, endurance, and team support. We must stay true to our rhythm, avoid external distractions, and remain alert to changing “road conditions,” adjusting our pace and gathering strength along the way.

The blueprint is drawn, and now is the time to strive. Standing at the tenth anniversary and the Year of the Horse, let us ride our dreams, spur our horses, take AI as wings, and soar into the starry ocean that belongs to all Waterdrop people!

Finally, I wish everyone a new year of galloping horses and all the best! Let’s continue to unleash our full potential and achieve new heights in this new journey.

Waterdrop Founder and CEO Shen Peng

February 24, 2026