ChainThink reports, according to LatePost, Alipay's AI overhaul project, internally codenamed "Project Bao," is led by Li Jun, President of the Alipay Business Group, and is classified as the highest confidentiality-level project at Ant Group. It is expected to launch soon and will undergo rapid iterations at a frequency of twice per month after release.
To serve its base of one billion users with zero migration cost, the new version adopts a seamless swap model with one-click switching. Upon opening, users will still see the original Alipay interface by default, but can independently switch to the new conversation-driven interface with a single click and set it as their preferred option.
In terms of technical integration, the new version adopts a dual-track approach: on one hand, it encourages merchants to transform their services into MCP interfaces directly callable by AI; on the other hand, under user authorization, it ensures compatibility with unmodified mini-programs through screen-reading operations, completing the long-task service loop.
Alipay also plans to launch an AI open platform after going live and promote cross-device connectivity with terminals such as smartphones, in-car systems, and smart glasses.
The project underwent a major strategic shift: in its early stages during the second half of 2023, the team developed an independent native AI application and launched Zhixiaobao in September 2024, but the results fell short of expectations, while the daily active users of intelligent agents within Alipay remained consistently in the millions.
In March 2025, the team adjusted its direction, abandoning the standalone app solution, and officially initiated the in-app transformation project in December of the same year, gradually implementing the "replacing the old with the new" strategy.