- Reports say revamped app could replace menus and search bars with conversational AI assistant
- Move would shift Alipay from service directory to task-executing digital agent
Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) is quietly testing an AI-enabled version of its payment tool Alipay that could fundamentally change how users interact with one of China’s most widely used apps, according to reports from Bloomberg and other outlets.
The redesigned app is said to feature an AI assistant tentatively named “Ah Bao,” allowing users to complete tasks through natural language commands rather than navigating menus or entering keywords into a search bar.
Under the proposed interface, users could simply tell the assistant to book a ride to the airport, order a latte or arrange food delivery, with the system carrying out the request automatically.
One of the most significant changes
With user authorization, the assistant could also perform certain financial tasks, including purchasing mutual funds and managing investment accounts.
The overhaul is being viewed as one of the most significant changes in Alipay’s history.
Since its launch, the platform has largely relied on menus and search functions to connect users with services.
The AI-driven redesign would shift that model toward intent-based interactions, where users express what they want and the system handles execution.
Tencent entering the fray
The development reflects a broader shift in China’s internet sector. While Alipay and WeChat each serve more than one billion users, both platforms were built during the mobile internet era as gateways to a growing ecosystem of services.
In the AI era, competition is increasingly centered on which platform can better understand user intent and act on it autonomously.
Tencent is reportedly testing AI agent capabilities within the messaging service WeChat, setting the stage for a new phase of rivalry between China’s dominant super apps.
Earlier moves
The reported Alipay redesign is not Ant Group’s first foray into the agentic AI era. The company has previously launched the general-purpose AI assistant Lingguang and healthcare-focused AI application Ant Afu.
On May 26, Alipay said its AI payment system had processed more than 300 million transactions initiated by AI agents, which it described as the world’s first AI-native payment infrastructure operating at large commercial scale.
The launch timetable for the new Alipay interface remains unclear. Ant Group declined to comment on the reports.
