Ant Releases AI-Powered Alipay App Amid AI Race Among Chinese Tech Giants

On June 17, a major Chinese fintech company announced the rollout of an AI-powered version of its widely-used online payment platform, which boasts over a billion users. This move is part of a broader trend among Chinese tech giants to integrate artificial intelligence features into their super apps, aiming to attract more users and boost engagement.

The AI-native version of the payment app has started limited testing with select users and will gradually be accessible to the public. The new app introduces an AI assistant named Ah Bao, designed to help users easily find services and perform daily tasks using voice commands.

Users can now access more than 10,000 services, including ride-hailing, food delivery, and home appliance repair scheduling, all through natural language conversations with Ah Bao, the company noted.

“Our goal has always been to leverage technology to simplify everyday services—whether it’s paying bills from home or booking a doctor’s appointment without waiting in line,” said the head of the business group for the platform. “Today, we’re exploring how AI can enhance how users access services, transforming AI from a tool for a select few into a daily helper for many.”

The new app features a streamlined interface with just two main sections at the top—one for Ah Bao and another showing the user’s financial overview—while crucial functions like money transfers and payments still require manual confirmation, maintaining a boundary on the AI’s control.

Besides offering users a more seamless and intuitive experience, Ah Bao provides merchants and brands with a direct gateway to connect with consumers. The company also plans to introduce an open-source platform for developers, merchants, and independent software vendors to build and integrate their services within the Ah Bao ecosystem.

Similarly, another leading Chinese super app, developed by a major tech company, is expected to launch a comparable AI feature soon. This company is working on an AI agent that will integrate mini-programs, social networking, and payment services within its platform, as shared by the company’s president in a recent earnings call.