Pinduoduo, a leading player in the e-commerce domain operated by PDD Holdings, is making significant strides in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) by actively seeking to fill various specialized roles. The company has recently posted job advertisements for positions including algorithm engineers, with an emphasis on developing large language models (LLMs). These positions, based in Pinduoduo’s Shanghai headquarters, offer competitive salaries up to 60,000 yuan (US$8,451) per month, according to listings on the online talent service Boss Zhipin.
The drive to recruit LLM developers and referencing engineers is a clear indication of Pinduoduo’s commitment to enhancing its AI capabilities. Those hired for the LLM referencing engineer role will be tasked with the research and development of the company’s reference engine for LLMs. LLMs are advanced algorithms that form the foundation of generative AI technologies, similar to the widely recognized ChatGPT developed by OpenAI.
Responsibilities for these roles will not only involve the technical development and optimization of Pinduoduo’s LLMs but also monitoring cutting-edge developments in the sector. The goal is to integrate these advancements into Pinduoduo’s various business operations, including potential applications in AI-generated content (AIGC).
As of now, Pinduoduo has not publicly disclosed if it plans to launch its LLM to external users or the specific internal applications for which the technology will be utilized. The move to ramp up investment in AI, particularly in LLMs, aligns Pinduoduo with other major tech companies in China, which have been quick to explore and implement generative AI in their services.
This trend is evident among Pinduoduo’s e-commerce competitors like JD.com and Alibaba Group Holding. JD.com’s introduction of ChatRhino and Alibaba Cloud’s launch of the Tongyi Qianwen LLM are testaments to the growing importance of LLMs in enhancing business efficiency and consumer engagement.
Pinduoduo’s interest in AI is not new. Founder and former CEO Colin Huang Zheng, with a background in computer science and AI, has previously expressed the company’s intent to leverage machine learning for product selection on the platform. Co-CEO Chen Lei, previously the CTO, has also discussed the potential of a distributed AI system in refining product-consumer matching to foster retail growth.
This strategic focus on AI and LLMs indicates Pinduoduo’s ambition to stay at the forefront of technological innovation in the competitive e-commerce landscape, enhancing its capabilities to better understand and cater to consumer preferences through advanced AI technologies.
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