Tencent Brings AI Assistant Xiaowei to WeChat

Tencent is rolling out an AI assistant directly inside WeChat. The feature, called Xiaowei, is currently in testing in China and represents the company's bid to keep pace in the country's fierce AI race.

The assistant runs on WeLM and DeepSeek models. WeLM is Tencent's own large language model, while DeepSeek is a separate AI company whose models have gained significant traction.

Embedding AI into WeChat is a big strategic move. The super-app dominates Chinese digital life with over a billion users. Dropping an AI assistant into that ecosystem gives Tencent an instant distribution advantage.

The move signals Tencent is done watching from the sidelines. Rivals across China have been aggressively shipping AI products, and Tencent is now pushing to close the gap by integrating generative AI into its most important platform.