Published On: Sun, 16 Feb 2025 14:44:28 PKT
Weixin Integrates DeepSeek for Enhanced Search Capabilities
In a significant advancement for its messaging platform, Tencent has announced that Weixin, China’s largest messaging app, has commenced beta testing for a new search function powered by DeepSeek. This initiative marks a pivotal moment as Tencent aligns itself with the burgeoning artificial intelligence sector in China.
According to a spokesperson from Tencent, users participating in the beta can now select an “AI Search” option directly from the Weixin search bar, gaining access to DeepSeek alongside Tencent’s proprietary Hunyuan foundational model. Notably, this feature is currently exclusive to Weixin and is not available on its international counterpart, WeChat.
The DeepSeek-R1 model, which debuted on January 20, has been making headlines for its impressive reasoning capabilities that rival those of more established AI models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google, while maintaining significantly lower training costs. Tencent representatives highlighted that users can access the full version of the DeepSeek-R1 model at no cost, promising a richer and more diverse search experience.
This integration of DeepSeek into Weixin is poised to empower approximately 1.3 billion active users who utilize the app for various functions, including messaging, document sharing, video streaming, financial transactions, and e-commerce.
As users interact with the DeepSeek service, they will be able to observe its reasoning process as it formulates responses to queries, akin to features found on other AI platforms. Furthermore, Tencent has incorporated the DeepSeek-R1 model into its AI chatbot application, Yuanbao, which was launched this week, providing users with an additional option alongside the existing Hunyuan model.
The urgency to adopt cutting-edge AI technologies is palpable among Chinese companies, spanning cloud computing to telecommunications. Recently, China’s three major telecom operators—China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom—have integrated DeepSeek’s models into their offerings, as reported by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
Moreover, DeepSeek’s innovative models have ignited a wave of AI enhancements among Chinese smartphone manufacturers. Huawei has announced its use of the DeepSeek-R1 model to enhance Xiaoyi, the AI assistant in its latest HarmonyOS Next. Other brands, including Oppo, Honor, and Vivo, have similarly committed to integrating DeepSeek-R1 into their devices, signaling a robust trend towards AI adoption in the consumer electronics sector.
