The biggest update in history! The AI-powered Alipay launches invite-only testing—a single chat window handles payments, transfers, and tens of thousands of other services.

``` Ant Group’s Alipay completes its largest product overhaul in 20 years, shifting its product positioning from a utility app to an AI agent platform. On June 16, the AI version of Alipay was officially launched, with the smart assistant named “A Bao.” Users can swipe right to enter the new chat interface and use natural language to access tens of thousands of services on the platform. The original layered menus are now unified into a single chat entry point. The new version has started invite-only testing and will gradually open to all users. This upgrade is seen as a pioneering case of a top domestic app undergoing full-scale AI transformation and may introduce new variables to the competitive landscape of the mobile payment industry. According to Wang Pengbo, a senior analyst at Broadcom Consulting in the financial industry, the revamped Alipay serves as a super entry point offering AI-powered tasks, payments, and asset management to one billion users—making it the first domestic AI app to cover such a large user base and potentially driving the mobile payment industry to shift from a tool-based attribute to intelligent services. Interface "Streamlining": From "Feature Shelf" to "Chat Entry Point" The AI version of Alipay is visually more minimalist. The new version reduces the previous dense icons, retaining only the “A Bao” and “Assets” function pages on the main interface, with QR code scanning and transfer as auxiliary features. The interaction logic has also been reconstructed. Users no longer need to search through multi-level menus; instead, they can simply type or speak their requests in the chat box, and A Bao will automatically match the corresponding service and directly present the operation interface. For example, for housing fund inquiries, the user says “Help me check my housing fund,” and A Bao identifies the corresponding mini-program and entry point, pushing the inquiry screen to the user—compressing what used to be a multi-step process into a single conversation. Complex scenarios are also supported. If the user says, “My car is running low on battery, help me find a charging station,” A Bao can, based on the authorized location, list stations by distance and show the number and price of fast/slow charging slots. The user can select a site and park to complete the service—no need to switch between mini-programs. Currently, over ten thousand services have been adapted, covering government services, transportation, daily life, and more. Defining Safety Boundaries: AI-Assisted Processes, User Confirmation Required for Financial Operations Addressing user concerns about AI operating on funds, Alipay has clearly set boundaries: A Bao provides process navigation and does not touch funds. All payment or financial transactions require user confirmation; AI only executes actions with the user’s explicit consent. For asset management, the new version introduces a standalone "Assets" page, consolidating funds previously scattered across Yu’e Bao, Mini Wallet, and other products into a unified personal ledger view. Li Jun, VP of Ant Group and President of Alipay Business Group, stated that an additional “security lock” has been implemented on top of the existing security risk control system, and security measures will continue to be strengthened. Invite-Only Testing First—Full Rollout Will Take Time The AI version of Alipay is still in small-scale gray testing and not yet open to all users. Alipay stated that the first batch of invitations is limited, aiming to verify system stability and fund security before a large-scale rollout. The internal test invitations have generated much excitement in the market, with increasing demand on social platforms and even invitations being sold on secondary markets. However, initial user feedback has been mixed; some users said it is “not impressive,” with miscalculated income/expense functions and overall unclear functional value. Wang Pengbo of Broadcom Consulting noted that a wide-scale revamp requires users to change their habits, while also ensuring data security, compliance, and AI risk control. Therefore, likely, small-scale tests will come first, with ongoing optimization based on real-world feedback. Alipay is retaining both the original and AI versions in parallel, allowing users to freely switch according to their preferences and giving those unfamiliar with AI interaction time to adapt. Accelerating Payment Industry AI Transformation, Alipay Pushes for Multi-Dimensional Reform This upgrade comes as AI competition in the payments market clearly intensifies. Wang Pengbo points out that user growth in the mobile payments industry has plateaued and product functions are highly homogenized. By using AI to rework interaction logic and compress operation flows, Alipay may be able to boost usage frequency and retention among existing users. Cheng Hua, Deputy Director of the Center for Digital Economy Research at Renmin University of China, believes that the launch of the AI version of Alipay marks a comprehensive move of the mobile internet into the AI era. This helps lower the threshold for AI application use, promotes the popularization of domestic AI applications, and prevents the formation of a new digital divide. In terms of open ecosystem, Alipay plans to launch an Agent open platform for developers, merchants, and service providers, allowing partners to access the Agent ecosystem without extra development, further expanding the platform’s service boundaries. Risk Warning and Disclaimer Markets carry risk, and investment should be cautious. This article does not constitute personal investment advice, nor does it consider the specific investment targets, financial situations, or needs of individual users. Users should consider whether any opinions, viewpoints, or conclusions herein fit their own situation. Investment based on this is at your own risk. ```