Tencent has started testing a new AI assistant named Xiaowei for its WeChat platform, as reported by Bloomberg.
The super app, known as Weixin in China, recently made the service available to a limited number of users.
Individuals can interact with Xiaowei using text or voice commands to complete tasks through the platform’s mini-app ecosystem.
While WeChat has not specified exactly which functions the agent can handle, its ecosystem currently hosts mini-programmes for services including food delivery and ride-hailing.
A separate statement from Tencent’s customer service unit confirmed that Xiaowei primarily uses the company’s proprietary large language model WeLM.
The tool also turns to DeepSeek for certain queries.
Adding more advanced AI capabilities to WeChat is a key step for Tencent as it looks to monetise new technology across its user base of more than one billion people.
The company is working to strengthen its position against competitors such as ByteDance and Alibaba in AI development and adoption.
Chinese technology companies are increasingly embedding AI into established digital ecosystems to retain users and expand services.
Ant Group is also testing an AI agent within its Alipay application to help users handle tasks such as booking rides and ordering food.
Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Hong Kong, based on image by freepik via Magnific
