Alipay recently opened beta testing for its AI-powered version. Users can swipe right on the existing interface to enter a new interactive mode, and can switch between the AI version and the classic version at any time. The new interface returns to simplicity, retaining only a dialog box and an asset page, replacing the original „showcase-style“ feature entrances. The built-in AI assistant is named „Abao“ (Ah-Bao), and its core capability is completing service calls via natural language: taking provident fund inquiries as an example, users only need to say „I want to check my provident fund,“ and Abao will automatically match the corresponding mini-program and entrance, directly presenting the operation interface — multi-step navigation is condensed into one sentence. Currently, over 10,000 services on the platform have been adapted, covering scenarios such as government affairs, travel, and daily life, with numbers continuing to increase; commonly used shortcuts for scanning QR codes and transfers are also retained separately and unaffected.
In terms of fund security, Alipay has made clear that Abao is only responsible for the „legwork“ — preparing the process and interface, while all final confirmations involving fund changes and payments must be completed by the user themselves. The „You dare to pay, I dare to compensate“ guarantee is concurrently maintained. On the ecosystem level, Alipay simultaneously announced the full opening of service entrances, allowing government agencies, local merchants, and independent developers to connect their services to reach over 1 billion users via an open protocol. Alipay positions this update as an inclusive upgrade for all users, covering elderly users, voice-habit users, and groups who have never been exposed to AI products, rather than targeting only early technology adopters.