- The project, classified as top secret internally, aims to automate routine tasks across millions of WeChat mini-programs for its massive user base.
- Tencent intends to launch gray-box testing in the middle of the year and roll out the feature to all users in the third quarter.
Tencent is secretly developing a top-secret AI (artificial intelligence) agent for its WeChat application, according to a Tuesday report by The Information.
The agent is designed to automate tasks such as booking ride-hailing services and ordering food delivery across millions of mini-programs for its 1.4 billion monthly active users, representing a major shift for AI from answering questions to executing tasks, the report said.
The initiative, classified as highly confidential within the company, dates back to at least the first half of last year, four people familiar with the matter revealed.
Tencent intends to launch gray-box testing in the middle of the year and roll out the feature to all users in the third quarter. However, insiders noted that the launch timeline could still be adjusted if the feature is not yet mature, the report said.
In addition to this top-secret WeChat agent, Tencent launched WorkBuddy on Monday, which is compatible with the hit open-source AI agent OpenClaw.
The tech giant announced on Tuesday that another local AI assistant named QClaw is currently undergoing internal testing, enabling users to operate it remotely directly through WeChat conversations.
Tencent's rapid expansion of its desktop AI product matrix reflects the intensely fierce competition Chinese tech giants are experiencing in the artificial intelligence sector.
Alibaba just fully opened its desktop agent QoderWork, which features plug-and-play and secure local execution, on March 3. ByteDance's Volcano Engine launched the cloud-based platform ArkClaw on Monday. Zhipu rolled out AutoClaw, pre-loaded with popular skills, on Tuesday.
