Tencent unveils a Siri-like digital assistant for WeChat

The icons for Tencent Holdings Ltd. applications WeChat, clockwise from top left, QQ, JOOX, Tencent News and Tencent Video are arranged for a photograph on an Apple Inc. iPhone in an arranged photograph taken in Hong Kong, China, on Wednesday, July 26, 2017. Tencent is scheduled to release second-quarter earnings figures on Aug 16. Photographer: Anthony Kwan/Bloomberg

Tencent Holdings Ltd will soon introduce a Siri-like digital assistant for WeChat, helping the messaging service’s billion-plus users with simple tasks such as playing music and hailing a ride. 

Dubbed “Xiaowei”, the assistant will link to a plethora of Tencent’s own services such as QQ Music. But it also hooks up with lite-apps run by third parties such as Meituan Dianping or Didi Chuxing that provide on-demand services from food delivery to ride-hailing, WeChat executive Zhou Jie told attendees at a company conference. It’s unclear when Xiaowei will be rolled out, or how much the Chinese company intends to build up the service.