WeChat's AI Agent 'Xiaowei' Put to the Test: Handles Dining and Ride-Hailing, but Stumbles on Complex Tasks

Tencent Holdings' WeChat is embedding an AI agent named "Xiaowei" into its super app, accessible via two green dots at the top of the screen, allowing users to delegate everyday operations such as restaurant bookings and ride-hailing. In its latest earnings report released on August 14, Tencent mentioned Xiaowei for the first time, highlighting its focus on user privacy protection and inference efficiency.

In a hands-on test by a South China Morning Post reporter over nearly 24 hours, Xiaowei performed well on explicit instructions like booking a restaurant or placing an order, but struggled with tasks requiring multi-step coordination or vague commands, occasionally making errors or needing human intervention. For instance, the agent was inconsistent when modifying reservation times or handling certain payment steps.

The launch of Xiaowei marks WeChat's shift from "passive response" to "proactive execution," though the current version remains in early trial. Tencent has not announced an official rollout timeline for Xiaowei, nor clarified whether it will integrate third-party payments or additional external services. Analysts suggest that compliance and security in real-money operations will be critical prerequisites for its large-scale deployment.