Chinese fintech giant Ant Group has introduced a new artificial intelligence (AI) app called Zhixiaobao, designed to function as a virtual assistant for daily tasks. Launched as a stand-alone app, Zhixiaobao offers users assistance with everyday activities, such as ordering meals and hailing taxis, using either text or voice commands. It also provides access to a variety of third-party services, expanding its utility in personal errands.
Ant Group’s president Cyril Han stated that the launch is part of the company’s broader initiative to leverage AI for “practical, user-focused solutions” and make virtual assistants like Zhixiaobao integral to everyday life. This marks another step in Ant Group’s strategy to turn its large language models (LLMs) into consumer-facing services that can improve convenience for users.
The new chatbot app is modeled as a companion to Ant’s popular payments app, Alipay—known as Zhifubao in Chinese. The name “Zhixiaobao” reinforces this connection, presenting the virtual assistant as a complementary tool within Ant’s ecosystem. The AI-powered assistant had previously been available as a feature within Alipay, focusing primarily on personal wealth management and insurance services, including generating asset-management plans for users.
Built on Ant’s proprietary Bailing foundational model, Zhixiaobao integrates AI into financial, healthcare, and life services. The Bailing model was first introduced in September last year and gained regulatory approval in November, allowing Ant to scale its AI capabilities. It has since been incorporated into over 500 use cases within Alipay, serving more than 100 million users.
As part of its broader AI strategy, Ant is also set to release two additional AI apps, Maxiaocai and another health management-focused app, further expanding its suite of AI-driven services. Maxiaocai will assist users in managing their personal finances, while the health app will focus on providing AI-driven healthcare support.
Ant Group is not the only Chinese tech company making strides in the AI space, as several firms invest in generative AI technologies. The launch of Zhixiaobao aligns with the growing trend of Chinese companies developing their own LLMs and turning them into marketable products amid increasing global competition.
Ant’s commitment to expanding AI’s role in consumer services signals its ambition to make tools like Zhixiaobao a regular part of daily life for millions of users, ensuring AI becomes a valuable asset across multiple industries.
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