Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (BABA) is enhancing its mapping division, AutoNavi (Amap), by introducing a new AI feature that allows restaurants to create stunning 3D virtual tours of their spaces. Utilizing just regular photos or videos, restaurant owners can generate high-quality 3D images, significantly reducing marketing and advertising costs. According to Bloomberg, Alibaba plans to offer this service for free to select retailers during its testing phase. This initiative poses a direct challenge to Meituan and its Dianping platform, intensifying competition in China’s food delivery and local services markets. It aligns with CEO Eddie Wu’s strategy to integrate “AI-first” capabilities across Alibaba’s operations, mirroring actions taken by competitors like Google and Tencent. Following this announcement, Alibaba shares rose 2.68% in Hong Kong, closing at HK$153.00, indicating growing investor confidence in the company’s focus on AI-driven customer engagement tools.
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