Tencent Unveils a Siri-Like Digital Assistant for WeChat
- WeChat’s assistant can help connect users with mini apps
- WeChat mini programs will focus on monetisation with ads
Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg
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Tencent Holdings Ltd. will soon introduce a Siri-like digital assistant for WeChat, helping the messaging service’s billion-plus users with simple tasks such as playing music and hailing a ride.
Dubbed “Xiaowei,” the assistant will link to a plethora of Tencent’s own services such as QQ Music. But it also hooks up with lite-apps run by third parties such as Meituan Dianping or Didi Chuxing that provide on-demand services from food delivery to ride-hailing, WeChat executive Zhou Jie told attendees at a company conference. It’s unclear when Xiaowei will be rolled out, or how much the Chinese company intends to build up the service.