by LU Keyan

Tencent has begun internal testing of a group-based social feature for its AI assistant Yuanbao, as it looks to move beyond one-on-one chatbots and bring artificial intelligence into shared social interaction.

The new feature, known as "Yuanbao Party," is being tested internally and is available to a limited group of users, according to people familiar with the rollout.

Unlike traditional one-on-one chatbots, Tencent is positioning Yuanbao Party as a shared social space where AI operates alongside multiple users. Within these rooms, users can rely on AI to handle routine coordination tasks, such as setting reminders, organizing group check-ins for activities like reading or exercise, and enabling shared experiences through built-in audio and video functions — drawing on Tencent Meeting — to watch movies or listen to music together in real time.

To support broader participation, Tencent has linked Yuanbao Party to its core social platforms, allowing users to invite others through WeChat and QQ, a move aimed at lowering barriers to onboarding and group formation.

The test coincides with a broader push by Tencent to boost engagement around Yuanbao. On Jan. 25, the company announced a Lunar New Year campaign that will distribute up to 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) in cash incentives starting Feb. 1.

Questions over user engagement have become a central issue in the AI industry, with developers debating whether chatbots alone can sustain regular use. Several executives have argued that conversational tools face inherent limits. Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI, has said progress beyond chat will depend on stronger reasoning and task execution, while Jensen Huang of NVIDIA has pointed to embodied systems such as robotics and autonomous driving as AI’s longer-term direction.

In China, many AI applications have focused on agent-style services that help users complete tasks such as ordering food or planning trips. While practical, such tools have struggled to keep users engaged.

Yuanbao Party takes a different approach by embedding AI into existing social relationships. In group settings, AI can support everyday coordination, including summarizing conversations, organizing documents and scheduling shared activities.

Tencent has previously tested AI-social features within its messaging platforms, including AI-generated summaries in WeChat group chats and limited interactions in QQ groups. Creating a standalone social space under Yuanbao allows the company to push experimentation further while containing risks to its core platforms.

Tencent has a track record of using social mechanics to drive platform shifts. WeChat's red packets helped accelerate adoption of WeChat Pay in 2014, while Yuanbao's integration with DeepSeek during the 2025 Spring Festival strengthened its position among China's leading AI apps. Testing Yuanbao Party ahead of this year’s holiday season follows a similar playbook.

Behind the scenes, Tencent is increasing investment in AI infrastructure. The company has reorganized its large-model teams, creating dedicated units focused on infrastructure and data, and expanding recruitment of senior researchers. People close to the effort said Tencent has already deployed internally developed models geared toward agent-style tasks, which will be adapted for use in Yuanbao.

For Tencent, the challenge is timing. While WeChat provides a rich environment for AI agents, missteps could affect user experience at scale. Yuanbao, as a newer AI-native app with an established user base, offers a more controlled testing ground. Whether AI can become a seamless layer within social interaction will depend on whether Tencent can identify a use case that resonates widely. For now, Yuanbao Party represents an early step in that effort.