Ant Group rolls out its biggest Alipay overhaul in two decades, redesigning the mobile payments app into an AI-focused platform. Multiple outlets report that Alipay is introducing an interactive AI assistant—referred to as “Ah Bao” or “Abao”—as part of a new user interface. A trial version is made available through an interface change on the app’s homepage, where users access the new assistant via a right-swipe gesture. One outlet says invitation-only testing begins for selected users, with access starting June 16, while another describes the trial availability of the flagship app featuring the assistant.
The changes signal a shift from Alipay functioning primarily as a digital wallet toward a broader ecosystem of AI-driven services. The assistant is positioned as a native feature within Alipay rather than a standalone product. Both reports frame the move as part of a wider race among major technology companies in China to define the next-generation “internet gateway,” with Alipay aiming to compete by integrating autonomous or agent-like AI capabilities into everyday super-app functions.
